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The Kansas Jayhawks are set to face the Iowa State Cyclones. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our Kansas Iowa State prediction, odds, and pick.
Kansas has had a really good season. The Jayhawks have won close games against Texas Tech, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, and other Big 12 opponents. They have a strong win over Michigan State on their nonconference resume. They are very much in the hunt for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, as college basketball odds experts know. Yet, there is an undeniable sense that like many other Kansas teams under coach Bill Self, the Jayhawks are not imposing enough to reach the Final Four.
When you consider your Kansas Iowa State prediction, you have to admit that Kansas took a big step back on Saturday. The Jayhawks weren't just beaten by Kentucky in Phog Allen Fieldhouse; they were beaten up and bruised. Kentucky and big man Oscar Tshiebwe had their way with KU and David McCormack. Kentucky owned the paint and was the far more physical team. Kansas was outplayed and outworked, but more than that, the Jayhawks were bullied. Kansas is athletic, but it wasn't tough at all. Kentucky punched Kansas in the mouth, and that could cause this team to doubt itself as the season continues.
Iowa State is being roughed up by the rest of the Big 12. The Cyclones are well under .500 in the conference. That doesn't make them a bad team; the Big 12 is a cutthroat place in 2022, with nine teams being in the running for NCAA Tournament bids. All 10 teams in the conference would have been eligible had the NCAA not punished Oklahoma State. Nevertheless, Iowa State can't keep losing close games in the Big 12 (one of them being to Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse earlier in the season). The Cyclones have to start pushing games their way.
If you are thinking about a Kansas Iowa State pick, you have to know by now that ISU has shot the ball terribly this season. The Cyclones don't have dependable knockdown shooters. It makes it even more impressive that ISU is still likely to be an NCAA Tournament team in spite of the bad shooting and the crippling scoring droughts, but it remains that a team as good as Kansas is likely to punish such a slump if it emerges in this game.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Kansas-Iowa State odds:
College Basketball odds: Kansas-Iowa State Odds
Kansas: -1.5 (-110)
Iowa State: +1.5 (-110)
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Over: 135.5 (-106)
Under: 135.5 (-114)
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Why Kansas Could Cover the Spread
The Iowa State scoring drought occurs at least once every game. There is regularly a time when Iowa State simply can't put the ball through the basket. If the Jayhawks maximize that stretch of play and can avoid a long drought of their own, they should be in good shape.
Why Iowa State Could Cover the Spread
The Cyclones were one basket short of beating Kansas on the road. All they have to do is improve by one basket on their home floor in Hilton Coliseum, and they will win outright. If they lose to Kansas by one point — as they did in Allen Fieldhouse — they will still cover the spread.
Final Kansas-Iowa State Prediction & Pick
Iowa State could certainly win what is fundamentally a toss-up, but the fact that Kansas just got demolished by Kentucky will have the Jayhawks in the right frame of mind for this game. KU will not be embarrassed a second time. It will go into Hilton and come out with a narrow win, probably by two or three points.
Final Kansas-Iowa State Pick: Kansas -1.5
