Featured Video from Scott Reichel
For our best bets today, check out our latest “5-Star Minute:”
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
NCAAB: Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 8:00 PM EST
Iowa State has won four games in a row and they have only dropped one game all season. However, they are the road team in this game and face a ranked Iowa team in this in-state rivalry game. Still, the Cyclones are taking on a Hawkeyes team that has lost their last two games with both losses coming against ranked teams. In their four-game win streak ISU has won every game by double figures and they rank 25th in the nation in points allowed.
Iowa is the 18th ranked team in the nation, but they will likely not be in the top 25 when the next rankings come out. They have lost two in a row against ranked teams and after playing Wisconsin pretty close they were crushed in their last game facing 10th ranked Michigan State. While 6-2 overall the Hawkeyes are not off to a good Big 10 start losing their first two conference games.
Iowa is 4-1-1 ATS in their last six games facing Iowa State.
Rolling in the first half
In their last game Iowa State was at home and they beat North Dakota State 81-59 where they outscored the Bison 43-27 in the first half.
⏮⏮ a look back at some of last night’s action! #Cyclones pic.twitter.com/LGBTXZI9kB
— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneMBB) December 4, 2018
They played well on both ends of the floor shooting 50% from the floor and holding North Dakota State to only 36.5% shooting. The Cyclones had fewer offensive boards, but they forced 16 turnovers and only committed nine. Four of five starters for the Cyclones went for double figures led by Marial Shayok with 20 points and Michael Jacobson went for a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Shayok leads IDSU averaging 19.4 ppg and Jacobson ranks 2nd in the scoring department averaging 16.8 ppg. Jacobson also leads the squad in rebounding (8 rpg) and he has two straight double-doubles.
A game to forget
Iowa was on the road in their last game losing to Michigan State 90-68 in games they would like to forget. They were outscored by double digits in each half and only shot 32.8% from the floor and they allowed the Spartans to shoot 51.7%. While the Cyclones grabbed 16 offensive rebounds the Spartans had 21 and they shot a much better free through percentage. Tyler Cook led Iowa with 15 points and also had eight rebounds and the G duo of Isaiah Moss and Jordan Bohannon combined for 24 points. No player off the bench for the Hawkeyes scored more than five points.
Cook leads four players for Iowa that are averaging in double figures at 15.4 ppg and he also leads the team in rebounding averaging 8.1 boards per game. Luke Garza ranks 2nd on the team averaging 13 ppg, but he has only totaled 23 points in his last three games.
Notable Trends
The Iowa Hawkeyes are:
- 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points
The Iowa State Cyclones are:
- 4-11 ATS in their last 15 road games
- 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big Ten
- 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record
The Bottom Line What to bet on this game.
Full-Game Side Bet
Iowa has to be happy to be back at home to lick their wounds after getting thrashed in their last game. They have lost two in a row, but they are the pick in this non-conference, but in-state rivalry game. They will play well on both ends of the floor and after losing two in a row to top 25 teams Iowa will get back in the W column in this game and cover the spread as well.
Prediction: PICK: Iowa
Full-Game Total Pick
In the last 10 games between these teams the total has gone Over nine times. While the Under has been the pick in Iowa State’s last five games the Over is still the pick. these teams will run it up in this game and both teams will score a lot of points. The Hawkeyes will win a wild one and by wild I mean a high scoring game, so the Over is the way to go.
Prediction: PICK: Over
