Iowa State vs. Kansas Pick
Can No. 3 Kansas find a way to cover a big spread at home when it hosts Iowa State today at 2PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Kansas is favored at home today, as the Jayhawks are getting odds of -11 points against Iowa State. The over/under total is listed at 153 points. Kansas won the first meeting at Iowa State, 76-72, back on Jan. 16. The Cyclones have covered the spread in three of their last four meetings with the Jayhawks.
Kansas is coming off a 73-68 win at home over Baylor during the week, but the Jayhawks again failed to cover at home. While Kansas is 20-2 overall and 8-1 in the Big 12, it is just 7-13 against the spread this year and only 2-7 ATS at home. Kansas averages 83.8 points per game on offense this year, but allows 71 per game on defense. Frank Mason III has been leading the team with 19.9 points and 5.2 assists per game, but two of the team’s top players are facing some off-the-court issues. Lagerald Vick and Josh Jackson are persons of interest in a vandalism case. They are both listed as questionable because of a potential suspension, but nothing has been announced. Jackson averages 16 points and 6.9 rebound per game while Vick averages 7.1 points per game.
Iowa State has lost two straight coming into this game and now sits at 13-8 on the season and 5-4 in the Big 12. The Cyclones are 9-9 against the spread on the season and 2-4 ATS in their last six games. Iowa State is putting up 80.4 points per game on offense while allowing 69.9 on defense. Away from home, ISU is giving up 80.7 per game. Monte Morris is leading the team with 16 points and 5.6 assists per game while Nazareth Mitrou-Long averages 15 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
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Kansas has plenty of questions. Their top guys have some off-the-court questions and the Jayhawks just haven’t run away from most opponents, especially at home. Kansas certainly has the talent, but plays to the level of its competition. Iowa State should be able to compete today and keep this game close. Kansas hasn’t won by more than 12 points in nearly a month, so I think ISU has the ability to stay within 10 today.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL DAILY PREDICTION: IOWA STATE +11