March Madness college basketball season is well and truly here and there’s a lot on the line every day between now and the end of the college basketball season. It makes it just that bit trickier to navigate the betting landscape, but we’re here to help you as best we can. Check out our betting preview for a tough Big 12 tournament semi-final matchup between the Iowa State Cyclones and Oklahoma Sooners.
Oklahoma enters this contest as slight favourites. They’ve won five of their last six including a major upset victory over the Kansas Jayhawks in the first round of this competition. That one loss came against Iowa State in the unlikeliest of story lines. The Sooners appeared to be in complete control of the game leading 37-18 at halftime, but the Cyclones somehow came from behind to grab a 77-70 win.
Iowa State is led by forward Goerges Niang and guard Monte Morris. Niang is averaging 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while Morris effectively runs the offense averaging 11.9 points and 5.3 assists. This team can score the basketball at a pretty good level and has a few options in that regard. They’ve pulled off a few remarkable second half comebacks of late and there are some who are beginning to doubt whether a second straight trip to the Big 12 championship game will be possible.
The Sooners are led by Buddy Hield and Ryan Spangler. Hield is the team’s leading scorer averaging 17.5 points per game, but his shooting hasn’t been as efficient of late. He shot just 5 of 15 from the field in the recent win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Meanwhile, Spangler averages 10.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He is a crucial force on the inside and provides balance to a roster in a pretty competitive Big 12 conference.
Betting Preview: Oklahoma (-1) v Iowa State
The Sooners are slightly favoured, but it’s hard not to like the Cyclones recent big game experience and also the psychological edge from the game only a couple of weeks ago. Morris is playing good basketball and tournament play does come down to the guards – his matchup against Hield will be crucial.
The Pick: Iowa State (+1) (www.betonline.ag)
Writer’s Record Against The Spread: 32-26
basketball betting • big 12 • college basketball betting • iowa state cyclones • NCAAB • Oklahoma Sooners