NCAA Betting Picks: Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Iowa State Cyclones
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
by Mike Stewart
Experience battles youth when Iowa State Cyclones and Texas Tech Red Raiders meet as the Cyclones shoot for the season series sweep over the inexperienced and struggling Red Raiders under first-year coach Billy Gillispie.
The Cyclones look to move into a third-place tie with Baylor in the Big 12 Conference with a win, which would be the sixth straight league victory at home, something Iowa State has not accomplished since 2004.
Texas Tech has not tasted a conference road win since winning at Hilton Coliseum in January 2011. The series is tied at 10-10 after Iowa State rolled to a 76-52 win in Lubbock on Jan. 21.
- Texas Tech Red Raiders @ Iowa State Cyclones
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Where: James H. Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa
TV: ET, ESPNU/ESPN3
The Cyclones have opened as 15-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-18): Jordan Tolbert has emerged as one of the top freshmen in the Big 12, leading all freshmen in the league in rebounding (5.8) and field goal percentage (52.2). He also leads the Red Raiders in scoring (11.4), which is third among league freshmen. Texas Tech has used the same starting lineup the past three games for the first time this year. The Red Raiders have started 12 different lineups in 25 games. Tech is last in the Big 12 in 3-pointers per game (4.6), scoring offense (59.8), steals (5.1), turnovers (17.0) and turnover margin (-4.3). Texas Tech is 1-9 in true road games this year, and counting neutral sites, just 1-12 away from Lubbock.
Iowa State Cyclones (19-8): The Cyclones are looking for their first 20-win regular season since 2000-01 and their first 20-win season overall since 2003-04. ISU leads the Big 12 and is sixth in the nation averaging 8.9 3-pointers per game. Minnesota transfer Royce White is the only player in Division I to lead his team in scoring (12.9), rebounding (9.1), assists (4.9), steals (1.1) and blocks (1.0). Scott Christopherson leads the Big 12 and ranks third in the nation in free throw percentage (91.0). He also leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage (49.0) in league play. Christopherson, who transferred to ISU after a freshman season at Marquette, scored a season-high 25 in the win over Oklahoma last weekend and also topped the 1,000-point mark for his career. Michigan State transfer Chris Allen leads the team in 3-pointers (63) and is second in scoring (12.5).
1. Texas Tech has the youngest roster in the Big 12 and one of the youngest in the country. The Red Raiders have seven freshmen and three sophomores and only three players on the roster had played in a Division I game coming into this season. Conversely, Iowa State starts a sophomore and four Division I transfers.
2. Nine of Texas Tech's 13 conference losses have come by 17 points or more and of the 14 league games, only three have been decided by nine points or less.
3. Iowa State has not had multiple season sweeps in league play since 2000-01 when it had four. ISU has already swept Texas A&M and Oklahoma and a win over Texas Tech would give the Cyclones three for the year.
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Cyclones 73, Red Raiders 59.
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billy gillispie - chris allen - iowa state cyclones - james h. hilton coliseum - jordan tolbert - royce white - scott christopherson - texas tech red raiders
