Oskeim Sports provides bettors with quality sports picks in football, basketball and baseball. Here, Oskeim gives a betting preview on the Big 12 Conference game between Iowa State and Texas. Oskeim also provides one of his NCAA Basketball picks for Monday, January 22.
Texas enters tonight’s game with a stifling defense that is allowing just 66.5 points per game on 39.9% shooting from the floor to teams that would combine to average 77.4 points per game against a mediocre defense.
The Longhorns’ are nearly impenetrable at home where they are 8-2 SU and limiting opponents to a mere 64.7 points per game on 38.6% shooting from the field. Texas is ranked 9th in blocked shots per game, 12th in total blocks, 28th nationally in field goal percentage defense, 51st in scoring defense and 47th in personal fouls.
Iowa State arrives in Austin having lost five of its last 7 games, including blowout losses against Kansas State (91-75) and TCU (96-73). The Cyclones are slightly above average at both ends of the court, rating 4.9 points per game better than average offensively (75.5 points per game against teams that would combine to allow 70.6 points per game) and 1.7 points per game better than average defensively (73.3 points per game to teams that would combine to average 75.0 points per game).
The concern for Iowa State backers is the fact that the Cyclones’ defense has been a no-show away from home. Specifically, Iowa State is yielding 81.7 points per game on 46.4% shooting from the field and 39.0% shooting from beyond the arc on the road this season.
Iowa State’s lack of defense is part of the reason why it has failed to cover the Vegas number in five of its 8 road affairs this season. From a technical standpoint, the Cyclones are a money-burning 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games, 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games following a win and 1-4 ATS in their last five road clashes against foes with a winning home mark.
In contrast, Texas has demonstrated a level of resiliency this season that makes me feel comfortable making Shaka Smart’s squad as one of my NCAA Basketball picks for Monday. Specifically, Texas is a perfect 4-0 ATS in its last four games off a straight-up loss and 5-2 ATS in its last seven games off a loss by 20 or more points.
Finally, the underdog is a profitable 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight meetings in this series, while the Cyclones are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six clashes with Texas and 1-4-1 ATS in their last six trips to Austin. Lay the points with Texas as one of Oskeim Sports’ NCAA Basketball picks for Monday, January 22.
Oskeim Sports’ NCAA Basketball Picks for Monday, January 22:
- Texas (-7) (-105) over Iowa State
- Baylor (-4.5) (-110) over Kansas State