Kansas State (17-2) at Iowa State (14-4)
When: Tuesday, January 24th 2023
Where: James H. Hilton Coliseum,
Ames, IA
Time: 9:00 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Iowa State -5.5/134
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The Kansas State Wildcats will look to keep their slim lead in the Big 12 Conference when they visit the Iowa State Cyclones on Tuesday night in a matchup of ranked teams. The 13th-ranked Wildcats are rolling through the Big 12 with a 6-1 mark after a 68-58 win over the only winless team in the conference – Texas Tech. It wasn’t the best effort for Kansas State, who was down 45-37 in the second half before closing the game on a 31-13 run. The Wildcats held the Red Raiders to 32.4 percent from the floor and 7-of-29 from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the Cyclones come in off a 61-59 loss at Oklahoma State on Saturday after building a 16-point lead in the second half. Iowa State attempted just nine 3-pointers – making two of them – and shot below 40 percent from the floor. The loss dropped Iowa State (5-2) into a second-place tie with Texas and Kansas entering Monday’s action. The Cyclones, who are a perfect 10-0 at home, open this contest as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 134.
It ended up being a big win on Saturday for Kansas State over Texas Tech after what could have been a letdown. The Wildcats began the week with a wild overtime home win over rival Kansas on Tuesday night. It was the third overtime game since New Year’s Eve for Kansas State – all wins. Markquis Nowell led the Wildcats with 23 points to go with eight rebounds and five assists versus Texas Tech. Keyontae Johnson recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Nowell and Johnson are easily the top two players for a Wildcats team that averages 77.9 points per game. They are also sixth-best in the country with 18.3 assists per contest.
Iowa State has now lost two of their last three games after that stunning setback at Oklahoma State on Saturday. Caleb Grill, who is third on the team with 10.3 points per game, is questionable to play this Tuesday due to a back injury that forced him to sit out most of the second half on Saturday. The top two scorers are Jaren Holmes and Gabe Kalscheur, who are averaging 12.9 and 12.8 points this season, respectively. Big man Osun Osunniyi had 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks against the Cowboys. Kalscheur added 14 points and Tre King 10 for the Cyclones.
Kansas State could be the best team in the conference and I’ll take them anytime they are getting points. The Wildcats are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall and 14-5 ATS in their last 19 away from home. The road team in this series is 3-0-1 ATS in the last four meetings. Give me the points.
Pick: Kansas State +5.5
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