The Iowa State Cyclones are likely in the dance barring anything totally bonkers happening in the conference tournaments. A road win at Kansas was probably enough, but beating Baylor at home last weekend helped seal the deal. Now, the Cyclones have two big tests in their final two games of the regular season and both will affect their positioning before the Big 12 tournament. In the last week, they must travel to Morgantown and face a tough WVU team, but before that they will host the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Tuesday.
At 9 p.m. ET, tune into ESPN2 for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at James H. Hilton Coliseum. We will have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Tuesday schedule.
College Basketball Odds at BookMaker.eu
Oklahoma State has been an anomaly in college basketball this season, with a sparking record away from home. The Cowboys are 8-2-1 ATS on the road this season and have covered seven in a row. Even more impressively, four of those covers were outright wins as an underdog against a favored side. After losing their first six in conference, they have now won 10 of their last 11 and are streaking at the right time.
Iowa State is heating up when it matters most too. The Cyclones have both covered and won outright in five straight games, knocking off three other potential NCAA Tournament teams in the process. They are 7-4 ATS in Ames and covered four of their last five home games too.
Key Stat
There’s no secret as to what Oklahoma State is going to try to do in this game. The Cowboys have one of the top ten scoring offenses in the country and have been pouring in points on the season. They are fantastic at getting to the stripe and making free throws, knocking down 78.3 percent of their opportunities from the line and also average 85.7 PPG. OSU also has Phil Forte III, who is one of the best three-point shooters in the country despite throwing up seven a game on average.
Conversely, this team struggles mightily on defense. The Cowboys are allowing opponents to hit 46.4 percent of their shots from the floor and that has led to teams averaging 77 PPG against them on the year. Defensively, they have gotten better but every now and then they will have a slip-up, like when they allowed 92 points to Oklahoma a few games ago.
Player to Watch
Monte Morris is a rarity in college basketball these days. He has been a major contributor in all four of his seasons in Ames and has taken on a larger and larger role each season as other experienced players have left.
Most expected Iowa State to take a big step back this season without the talent that last year’s team offered, but Morris has made sure that it wasn’t too big of a step in the wrong direction. He is hitting 46.9 percent of his field goals on the year and although that might not be as efficient as he was previously, he is now the team’s leader and taking more shots than anyone else. Morris had his best game of the season in Iowa State’s 96-86 win over Okie State earlier in the year and will look to replicate the 30-point performance.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
These aren’t the same Cowboys that Iowa State knocked off in Stillwater earlier in this year. Oklahoma State has really clamped down on the defensive end and that has turned this team’s fortunes around. Morris won’t be able to go off like he did against them earlier in the season and that will make this one close. OSU might not win, but will keep it tight and cover.
College Basketball Odds: Iowa State 78, Oklahoma State 75
BookMaker.eu offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu!
