The Iowa State Cyclones welcome in the Texas Longhorns tonight in Big 12 College Basketball action. The game is scheduled for a 9:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN. Currently the Betting Odds for the game have the Cyclones favored to pick up the win.
Iowa State just dropped the proverbial ball last weekend, losing on the road to a really bad Texas Tech team. The Red Raiders are one of the worst teams in the Big 12 but circled the wagons, caught Iowa State looking ahead to this game with Texas and knocked off the Cyclones. How will Iowa State respond in this game tonight with a big Texas team coming in?
Fred Hoiberg's crew obviously does play well in home games, winning all 10 games played in Ames this season and have won 17 straight games there dating back to last season. The Longhorns come in fresh off a beatdown on their own floor after Kansas had a big second half to pick up the win. Both teams come into tonight's game ranked inside the Top 25, but each of them dropped a few spots because of their losses this weekend. Iowa State had moved inside the Top 10 but now with four losses, being No. 15 still seems like not-so-bad of a spot.
Iowa State will need to change some things up in the opening half tonight. The Cyclones have not gotten off to the best starts and while it hasn't cost them quite a few games, it still has made them work in the second half. Iowa State has been averaging just 33.7 points in the first half the last six games overall while having to score an average of 42.3 in the last 20 minutes of those games. The Cyclones have gone 4-2 in those six games.
Georges Niang and the Cyclones shot just 6 of 31 from downtown in the Texas Tech game, but don't expect that to continue tonight. Iowa State averages 83 points a game while shooting just under 50 percent from the floor in the 17-game winning streak at home.
Texas, though, has a monster front line, led by Jonathan Holmes, Myles Turner and Cameron Ridley. They have allowed opponents to score only 57.3 points per game this season, but it's almost impossible to hold Iowa State to that kind of number. Texas rebounds the basketball really well and they should have an advantage over Iowa State in that category. But with as good as Iowa State is offensively in their own building, rebounding might not be as big of a factor as it looks.
Monte Morris poured in 20 on Saturday, a career high, and he's averaging 6.5 assists per game the last four games. His skill at the point guard position makes Iowa State really move offensively, giving Texas' Isaiah Taylor a tough game tonight. Morris does not turn the basketball over (only 20 turnovers ALL SEASON) and gets Iowa State into a groove offensively. He'll be able to do the same tonight as the Cyclones will be running on Texas and taking advantage of the Longhorns' half-court sets.
Iowa State is just too good at home, even if they are coming off a terrible loss just a few nights ago.
Free Pick: Iowa State 77, Texas 68
Handicapping Tips: Super Bowl Prop Betting
Steve Fezzik, from Pregame.com, gives out some of his favorite Super Bowl props, plus some tips for tackling Super Bowl props.
$25 of picks FREE! No Obligation - No Credit Card Required - Becoming a member is Fast and Free!
Get more Free Picks from the Pregame Pros HERE.
Be sure and check out Pregame.tv every week for our videos that include handicapping tips, Webinars, analysis and Free Plays.