The Iowa State Cyclones will head out on the road to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a game where both Big 12 teams are ranked in the AP Top 25.
Iowa State is coming off a stunning 79-70 win over Texas at home while Texas Tech is coming off an unexpected 62-51 loss to Kansas State.
Both of these teams are very good defensively. Will that change in tonight’s contest? Here are our best free college basketball betting picks and predictions for the Big 12 matchup between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Iowa State vs Texas Tech odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Texas Tech opened as a 7.5-point favorite against Iowa State at home. A couple of books have even changed to -8 for Texas Tech at the time of this writing.
The total, however, has shifted from 123 at open to 127.5.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.
Iowa State vs Texas Tech predictions
Predictions made on 1/18/2022 at 8:25 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Iowa State vs Texas Tech game info
• Location: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, TX
• Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
• Tip-off: 9:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPNU
Iowa State at Texas Tech betting preview
Injuries
Iowa State: Jaden Walker G (Questionable).
Texas Tech: Sardaar Calhoun G (Questionable), Ethan Duncan G (Out).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Cyclones are 9-2 against the spread in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning percentage above .600. Find more NCAA betting trends for Iowa State vs. Texas Tech.
Iowa State vs Texas Tech picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
Texas Tech could beat any team in the nation on a given night. The Red Raiders already knocked off Kansas and Baylor back-to-back this season but shockingly lost to Kansas State on Saturday.
However, prior to those games, Texas Tech lost to Iowa State 51-47 in an intense, defensively-minded battle on the Cyclones' home court. Now Texas Tech will look for revenge by tying the season series at one-a-piece.
In that first game, Texas Tech used just seven bodies and played five guys for 28 minutes or more apiece. Adonis Arms literally played all 40 minutes in that game but scored just seven points. The leading scorer for Texas Tech was Davion Warren, who notched 12 of his team's 47 points.
On the other hand, Iowa State’s Aljaz Kunc dominated with 13 points on just four field-goal attempts. Kunc got to the line 10 times and made seven of those 10 foul shots to help lead the Cyclones to victory.
I don’t think much changes on Tuesday. Knowing both teams are currently in the Top 5 in Ken Pom’s defensive efficiency rankings, this will be another close one.
Texas Tech has held opponents to an effective field goal percentage of 45.6% while earning 24.3% turnovers. Meanwhile, Iowa State has held opponents to a 45.2% effective field goal percentage while earning 26.2% turnovers on the season.
Both defenses are very similar, but Iowa State’s foul shooting could be the difference. The Cyclones have made nearly 71% from the line this season while Texas Tech has shot just 66.6%.
Prediction: Iowa State +8 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
The last meeting between these teams failed to even reach the century mark. Tuesday's total opened up at 123 and has since reached 127.5. Bettors are paying attention to Iowa State’s 79 points against Texas, which is fair, but Texas is a far cry from Texas Tech, defensively speaking.
These teams match up very evenly and have the same strengths and weaknesses as one another.
Therefore, I’ll grab the Under now that it’s so much higher.
Prediction: Under 127.5 (-110)
Best bet
Iowa State has just three losses on the year and only one by a margin of more than 10 points.
The Cyclones took Baylor wire-to-wire and lost to Kansas by one. Ultimately, the one bad loss was to Oklahoma, on the road, 79-66.
With Iowa State getting eight points and knowing that it’ll be a low-scoring game, I like the Cyclones.
Pick: Iowa State +8 (-110)
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Use our college basketball parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
