Iowa State Cyclones (12-0) vs Baylor Bears (12-0)
Game Info: Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 2:00 pm (James H. Hilton Coliseum)
Betting Odds: Iowa State Cyclones +7.5 -- Over/Under: 130.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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Baylor faces Iowa State on Saturday, January 1st, 2022 at James H. Hilton Coliseum for a college basketball Big 12 matchup.
Baylor is coming off a 104-68 win over Northwestern State in its last game on December 28th at home. Baylor dominated and was able to cover the large spread in that game, moving to 12-0 overall this season and 8-3-1 against the spread. Baylor has some high-profile wins on the year already, and as of now the Bears are ranked #1 in KenPom ratings and have to be considered the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament. Baylor's leading scorer so far this season has been G LJ Cryer, who has scored 13.6 points per game for the Bears. F Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua leads the team in rebounds per game (8.4) and G James Akinjo leads the team in assists per game (6.3). Baylor as a team has scored 83.8 points per game and has shot the ball at a 48.8% clip from the field. Baylor is also allowing 56.8 points per game to its opponents this season.
Iowa State is coming off a 79-48 win over the WAC's Chicago State in its last game at home on December 21st. Iowa State is also a perfect 12-0 this season, as the Cyclones have surprised a lot of fans and experts alike with their hot start to the season. Iowa State is 8-4 against the spread this season and is currently ranked 7th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency. Iowa State's leading scorer so far this season has been G Izaiah Brockington, who has scored 16.9 points per game and has earned 8.4 rebounds per game as well. G Tyrese Hunter leads the team in assists per game at 5.1. Iowa State as a team has scored 73.1 points per game and has shot the ball at a 45.5% clip from the field. Iowa State has also allowed 56.1 points per game to its opponents this season.
Baylor is a 7.5-point favorite and the total is set at 130.5. Iowa State has been great against the three-point shot this season, but Baylor seems to be just too much for the Cyclones to handle here. The Coliseum will be rocking for this one, that is for sure, but I think Baylor is battle-tested enough to win this game on the road and add to its strong resume. I will lay the points with Baylor here.
Ron’s Pick Baylor -7.5
AUTHOR: Ron Romanelli
Follow Ron Romanelli on Twitter @RonnieRomanelli