Iowa State Cyclones vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
College Basketball Odds: OSU -5
When: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 7:00 EDT
Where: Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
Time and Watch: 8:00 EST on TNT - Doug Upstone is a top sports analyst for Doc's Sports and one of the sports industry's most respected handicappers. Find more from Doug and other top handicappers and get more college basketball picks each day at Doc’s Sports.
The Big 12 Conference Tournament gets underway Wednesday, with the No. 8 Oklahoma State Cowboys doing battle with No. 9 Iowa State Cyclones.
Oklahoma State (17-14, 14-16-1 ATS) is a deserving five-point favorite against the college basketball odds based on how they played down the stretch compared to Iowa State. The Cowboys have won three straight, four of five and seven of 10 since Feb. 5 and were 7-2-1 against the spread in the process.
Oklahoma State was already a good defense team and, on the season, they have held opposing teams to 39.9 percent shooting and 65.9 PPG. While their numbers have mostly been the same with a slight improvement, their success has come by starting fast to build leads or now having the confidence to close out tight games by making big stops and hitting key baskets in the last three minutes of contests. That believability factor really showed in their last regular-season game against a much-improved Texas team, where the Cowboys lassoed the Longhorns start to finish in 81-59 thrashing.
Iowa State (12-19, 13-17-1 ATS) was not having a great season to begin, then they lost leading scorer Tyrese Haliburton and Cyclones season headed straight south at 2-6 (2-5-1 ATS). The lack of offense and go-to players became a larger conundrum for Iowa State in their last half dozen encounters, averaging only 64.6 PPG (season average is 72 PPG). Things are made worse by a defense that has permitted four of their last six foes to make over 51 percent of shot attempts.
What Basketball Bettors Should Expect
These Big 12 partners split regular-season games with each winning and covering at home and they are 3-3 SU and ATS the last three seasons.
Iowa State has suffered away from Ames this season with a putrid 1-13 and 3-11 ATS record in true road games or neutral site conflicts like this one. With those numbers it should not come as a surprise the Cyclones are losing by 10.1 PPG.
Oklahoma State is not great on the road at 7-8 and 8-7 ATS but they look like road warriors compared to this evening’s combatant.
With Iowa State 2-14 ATS as an underdog and 0-6 ATS revenging a loss of 10 points or more this season, for college basketball picks let’s saddle up with Cowboys. Okie State’s reward for winning, a date with No. 1 Kansas on Thursday afternoon.
