No. 12 Cyclones Visit Tigers in SEC Challenge
The No. 12 Iowa State Cyclones and Missouri Tigers have been two of the most pleasant surprises in this college basketball season.
They get to test themselves against each other as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday, a final collection of non-conference games that could boost various NCAA Tournament profiles and seeding positions.
The Cyclones are 15-4 and are in the top spot in the Big 12 while Missouri is 15-5 overall but 11-2 at home. This looks like a tight game, so which side is the best bet versus the college basketball odds?
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for Iowa State vs Missouri. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
Cyclones Lead Big 12
The Iowa State Cyclones are having a great season under head coach T.J. Otzelberger. They are clearly getting the most out of their talent, having defeated No. 5 Kansas State on Tuesday night to gain a share of the Big 12 Conference lead.
Being ahead of Kansas, Baylor and Texas in the Big 12 is a phenomenal achievement for the Cyclones. Their work obviously isn’t done, but they have a real shot at winning a conference championship and getting a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Last season, Iowa State was able to get to the Sweet 16, but it did so the hard way, having to beat Wisconsin in Milwaukee as a double-digit seed.
This season, Iowa State could be a No. 4 or maybe even a No. 3 seed in March Madness.
If the team continues to win at its current rate and manages to finish in the top three of the Big 12 standings, it should at least get a No. 4 seed. Those who bet online know that this is an overachieving team.
Missouri Tigers
Missouri seems to have found the right coach, much as Iowa State found the right coach when it hired Otzelberger before the 2022 season.
Dennis Gates has quickly turned around Missouri basketball as his Tigers have looked very connected on the court. They have the ability to switch defenses and throw a lot of different looks at opponents.
Missouri and Gates will use a zone defense at times to bother opponents that lack proven outside shooters. This plan worked against Kentucky in a blowout win over the Wildcats in late December.
At the other end of the court, Missouri can also score. The Tigers posted 89 points in a win over Ole Miss. Missouri is in the NCAA Tournament field and just has to avoid a collapse over the next several weeks to feel completely safe.
A win here could really boost Missouri’s potential seed in the NCAA Tournament, since the Big 12 has more teams in the top 35 of the NET rankings metric than any other conference in the country.
Iowa State vs Missouri Game Injuries
Iowa State vs Missouri Head-to-Head
These two schools last met in 2022. Iowa State won 67-50.
Iowa State vs Missouri Game Information
- Game: Iowa State vs Missouri
- Location: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Missouri
- Day/Time: Saturday, Jan. 28, 2:00 p.m. ET
- Iowa State vs Missouri Live Stream: TBS.com
Iowa State vs Missouri Betting Lines
Iowa State vs Missouri Picks & Prediction
The game should be close and thrilling, which is what makes it tough to bet on in the sportsbook. On the surface, Iowa State might have a small edge but it is on the road. Missouri plays very well at home.
The Cyclones are coming off a draining win over Kansas State while Missouri coasted to a relatively easy win over Ole Miss. The Tigers will probably be able to win this game late against the Cyclones, so take them with your college basketball picks.
Iowa State vs Missouri Trends
Iowa State vs Missouri Edge
Iowa State vs Missouri Results
Iowa State vs Missouri Game Summary
