>The Texas Tech Red Raiders have a forecast 70% chance to win against The Iowa State Cyclones with a spread of -4.0/4.0 and an over/under of 135.5. The Texas Tech Red Raiders are 0 – 1 against The Iowa State Cyclones in the 2021-22 Season.
— Tuesday, January 18th Iowa State Cyclones @ Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Big 12 has a top-20 matchup as No. 15 Iowa State (14-3, 2-3) travels to take on No. 18 Texas Tech (13-4, 3-2). Both teams took losses on the road last week and need a win to get back into the top of the conference standings. Tipoff at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, is set for 9:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and the game will air on ESPNU.
These teams played in Ames on January 5, and the Cyclones won a defensive slugfest 51-47. Overall they have met 40 times, with Iowa State leading 21-19. The Red Raiders have won five out of six, including a 91-64 win at home last season.
Cyclones Rely on Defense
The Cyclones are 11-6 ATS this season, and the under is 10-7 in their 17 games. They did go 2-0 in neutral site games in November but are just 1-2 in true road games. Both road losses came in the last ten days with a 13-point setback at Oklahoma and a 1-point loss at Kansas.
Izaiah Brockington leads the Cyclones with 16.5 ppg and 7.9 rpg while shooting 48.4% from the field and 38.9% from the three-point range. Gabe Kalscheur (10.8) and Tyrese Hunter (10.6) are also in double figures scoring on the season, and the latter leads the team with 5.1 apg. Kalscheur scored 22 points while making 6-of-12 from 3-point range in the 79-70 home win over No. 21 Texas on Saturday.
The Cyclones make over seven three-pointers per game, led by Caleb Grill, who has 27 makes while shooting 39%. Aljaz Kunc has made 19-of-25 from deep, and Kalscheur has 25 makes as well. They rank 18th in scoring defense (59.3 ppg) and 11th in 3-point defense (27.1%).
In the first game this season, Iowa State led by 11 at the half but had to hold off a furious charge late in the game to win by four. Brockington led the way with 14 points while Kunc had 13 off the bench. The Cyclones shot just 31 percent from the field but held Tech to 3-of-17 (17.6%) from the 3-point range.
Red Raiders Back to Full Strength
The Red Raiders are 10-7 ATS this season, and the under is 10-7 in their 17 matchups. They are 10-0 at home this season, winning nine of them by double digits. They are 3-3 against ranked teams with wins over Baylor, Kansas, and Tennessee.
Tech lost at Kansas State on Saturday as they scored just 51 points and shot 39% from the field. Bryson Williams (12.4 ppg) led the team with 20 points, but no one else was in double figures. Terrance Shannon Jr. leads the team in scoring on the season at 12.6 ppg, and he scored just two points in 18 minutes for his first action in over a month with a back injury.
In addition to Williams and Shannon, Kevin McCullar (13.3) and Davion Warren (10.4) are also in double digits, with Kevin Obanor at 9.2 ppg. McCullar leads the team with 5.8 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists per game, while Williams is shooting 41% from three-point range.
The first game against Iowa State was lost at the free-throw line as the Red Raiders were 6-for-15 (40%). Warren led the team with 12 points while Williams had 10. Despite falling down big early, Tech stayed in the game by forcing 18 turnovers.
Betting Analysis
- Iowa State Cyclones +7.5 (-110)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders -7.5 (-110)
- Total Points: 126 Over -110. Under -110
The Red Raiders just played four games in eight days, including wins over then No. 6 Kansas and No. 1 Baylor. They should be refreshed to welcome the Cyclones to town as they look for revenge from the January 5 loss. The first time these teams played, the spread was -1 Iowa State, and it has flipped 8.5 points, but with the way, both sides battle on defense, the under is the play here.
Betting Pick: Under 126 (-110)
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