Iowa State Texas Betting – Longhorns Grind Cyclones Down, Pull Away For Big 12 Victory
Sports betting players just watched an interesting weekend in the NCAA, where the top four teams all lost and that should make for a rankings shakeup when they are released later on Monday. One of those teams were Texas, and the Longhorns will be out to get back to their winning ways on Tuesday when they welcome Iowa State to Austin. The Cyclones are better than their record indicates, but the Longhorns will be very motivated and their combination of size and skill will pay off.
- What: NCAA Basketball Betting
- When: Tuesday, February 22nd, 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX
- Pick: Texas Longhorns
Why Bet On Iowa State (14-13, 1-11 Big 12)
The Cyclones are better than their awful conference record shows; eight of their 11 Big 12 losses have come by10 points or less, so it’s not like they’re getting blown out. The guard duo of senior Diante Garrett (17.3 points, 6.1 assists) and junior Scott Christopherson (14.2 points) have never met a three-pointer they didn’t like, and the Cyclones are ninth in the country in three-pointers. Senior forward Jamie Vanderbeken (11.3 points, 5.2 boards) can also shoot from long distance despite being 6’11”, but he has been out for the last two games with a sprained ankle. They pass the ball around (41st in the country), and they shoot well from the free-throw line (73.4%).
Iowa State’s problem is that their up-and-down style breeds some poor defense; the Cyclones are 200th in the country in points allowed, and they’re awful on the boards, 243rd in rebound margin. Another major part of Iowa State’s downfall is a thin bench. The Cyclones can really only go seven deep with five players averaging in double figures when it comes to scoring, and at their pace, it’s tough for the starters to keep their production up for 40 minutes, especially in the Big 12. But to their credit, Iowa State has played hard all season long and their seniors have really held the team together.
Why Bet On Texas (23-4, 11-1 Big 12)
We will give you all the numbers on why you should put your NCAA basketball betting wager on the Longhorns, but we’ll start with this: Texas had an 11-game winning streak snapped at Nebraska on Saturday, so the Longhorns will be more than fired up for this contest. Sophomore forward Jordan Hamilton (18.7 points, 7.5 rebounds) shot terribly on Saturday, but he can be goaded into taking bad shots. Saturday was a game we would have seen from the freshman Hamilton, and the fact that he has really limited those games is a testament to his maturity. With freshman forward Tristan Thompson (12.6 points, 7.2 rebounds) and senior Gary Johnson (11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds), along with Hamilton, the Longhorns are 13th in the nation in rebound margin. Texas is also extremely physical and tough on the defensive end, coming in 16th in points allowed and second in field-goal defense, starting with the guard duo of freshman Cory Joseph and senior Dogus Balbay, while Thompson gives them a shot-blocking presence in the lane.
The Longhorns were strangely pushed around at Nebraska, although the Cornhuskers had the size to do it, and not every team will be able to manhandle Texas in the post like that. Texas isn’t that great at the foul line, coming in 290th, and we’re always worried that will come back to haunt them in a close game (they were 19-of-28 at Nebraska). To be honest, the loss was likely the best thing for the Longhorns as they were rolling and feeling good about themselves. This will cause them to refocus for the stretch run.
How The Game Will Play Out
NCAA basketball betting odds will definitely favor the Longhorns in Austin, where they are 4-1 SU in their last five meetings with the Cyclones, but only 1-4 ATS. The Longhorns are 8-3 ATS at home this season, while the Cyclones are 4-5 ATS on the road, and they’ll definitely try to push the pace against the Longhorns, but we’re betting on Texas to eventually run away with this game. Look for Joseph and Balbay to pressure Garrett from the opening tip and if you can slow him down, you slow down Iowa State. The Longhorns have more depth and they’re more physical than the Cyclones, and they will wear Iowa State down in the second half as they look to bounce back from the loss in Lincoln. Take Texas in your online betting picks.
Iowa State Texas Betting Pick: Texas Longhorns
