With March right around the corner, Monday brings college basketball fans a Final Four-caliber matchup between a pair of Big 12 powerhouses.
The No. 3-ranked Houston Cougars take on the No. 5-ranked Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, Iowa, capping off a doubleheader of nationally televised college hoops.
Two of the nation’s top defenses take the court, as the Cyclones are a marginal 1.5-point favorite, and the over/under sits at 133.5 total points.
Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars are red-hot, winners of six consecutive games, including a 14-point victory over Kansas State on Saturday.
Iowa State got its revenge, defeating No. 9 Kansas 74-56 over the weekend and bouncing back from a rare road dud against TCU.
Houston vs. Iowa State: Prediction, best bet
Offensive execution will be vital, as both teams rank in the top 10 in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Cyclones are fifth in the nation, right ahead of the Cougars, who rank sixth, according to KenPom.
The Cyclones have a tight rotation playing through versatile forward Milan Momcilovic, who leads the team in scoring with 18.4 points per game on a scorching 51.6% from 3-point range.
Tamin Lipsey commands T.J. Otzelberger’s Cyclones defense, averaging 2.3 steals per game and wreaking havoc on opposing primary ball handlers. Their hallmark win came in early December, a 23-point drubbing of then-No. 1 Purdue.
In contrast, the Cougars deploy an experienced backcourt of Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan. Sampson’s team is 11-1 in conference play and, with Arizona’s recent loss, now sits atop the conference.
Like Iowa State, Houston also makes it very difficult for its opponents to score. On average, teams shoot only 39.3 percent from the field against Houston’s stifling defense.
The talented freshman duo of shot-creator Kingston Flemings and leading-rebounder Chris Cenac Jr. were great additions to a team that was a possession away from championship glory in last season’s title game against Florida.
Flemings exploded for 42 points back on Jan. 24 against Texas Tech and can score the basketball with ease.
Iowa State’s downfall is its lack of an answer to guards who can create off the dribble, as exposed in both losses to Cincinnati and TCU.
Betting on College Basketball?
I like the Cougars in this spot.
The Cyclones had arguably their best performance of the season against Kansas, but it’s tough to follow an emotional win of that magnitude against a team like Houston just two days later.
Back Sampson and Houston’s talented guard play to keep the winning streak alive.
The Play: Houston moneyline (+110, DraftKings)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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