Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Iowa State Cyclones Predictions, Picks, Odds and NCAA Basketball Betting Preview – February 29, 2016

While the 17th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones no longer have a shot at the Big 12 regular season title, the team could still finish conference play on a strong note. They play their last home game of the season later tonight against the skidding Oklahoma State Cowboys, who just want to end their four-game losing streak.

Read on for more about this game. You can also check out our preview of Syracuse vs. North Carolina.

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Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Iowa State Cyclones Preview

Where: Hilton Coliseum, Ames

When: Monday, February 29, 7:00 PM ET

Line: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Iowa State Cyclones – view all NCAA Basketball lines

TV Broadcast: ESPN2

Betting on the Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-17, 3-13 Big 12)

Oklahoma State could only go as far without top scorers Phil Forte and Jawun Evans in the active roster. Both players have been dealing with injuries that have kept them out for this season and giving Cowboys head coach Travis Ford a constant headache.

So heavy was the impact of Forte and Evans’ absences on the team that the Cowboys’ averaged just 58 points on a poor 38.5 percent shooting in their last seven games. That’s the fewest points for any Division I team during that stretch.

The Cowboys, however, aren’t totally bereft of scorers, as the likes of Jeffrey Carroll and Jeff Newberry have proven to be capable of leading the offensive charge of Oklahoma State. Carroll scored 18 points in Oklahoma State’s 64-59 loss to the Cyclones on February 6, the first game that Evans missed. Carroll, however, was a big disappointment during Saturday’s 70-56 loss to West Virginia, scoring just a point while going 0-for-2 from the floor. Newberry also had a forgettable outing, as the point guard went shot 1- for-9 to finish with five points. Sophomore guard Joe Burton top scored with 16 points off the bench for the Cowboys, who are averaging just 67.5 points on the season.

Although shorthanded, Oklahoma State should find gaps in Iowa State’s vulnerable defense that is giving up 75.3 points per game.

The under is 8-2 in Oklahoma State’s last 10 games overall.

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Betting on the Iowa State Cyclones (20-9, 9-7 Big 12)

Iowa State hasn’t won in consecutive fashion since late January, but the Cyclones’ prospect of duplicating that feat looks great later tonight. That’s because the Cyclones are up against perennial victim (not to mention an injury-riddled team) in the form of Oklahoma State. Iowa State is 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS in its last six meetings with the Cowboys dating back to 2013.

Iowa State is fresh off an 80-61 demolition of Kansas State on Saturday, a game in which the Cyclones got a big lift from a couple of their supporting players. Jameel McKay had 14 points and 17 rebounds, while fellow reserve Hallice Cooke came out of nowhere and provided 10 points off the bench.  McKay didn’t even play in the first matchup with Oklahoma State, while Cooke is averaging just 3.0 points this season, so their being factors in the Kansas State game bode well for Iowa State’s notoriously thin bench heading into tonight’s contest in Ames.

Still, starters Georges Niang, Monte Morris, and Abdel Nader remain as the team’s go-to guys on offense. Niang leads the Cyclones in scoring with 19.4 points per game, while Morris has 14.6 PPG. Nader is third with 13.3 PPG, but chipped in a paltry six-point output against the Wildcats.

Writer’s Prediction

Iowa State wins, 78-65.