Iowa State vs. Houston Prediction: Should You Back Tamin Lipsey, Cyclones in Big 12 Championship?
On Saturday afternoon, Houston takes on Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship. Should you back Tamin Lipsey and the Cyclones in the Big 12 Championship game? Krabs answers.
Krabs - March 16, 2024, 2:24 PM EDT
5 minIowa State vs. Houston Prediction: Should You Back Tamin Lipsey, Cyclones in Big 12 Championship?
On Saturday afternoon, two of the best defenses in the country face-off for the Big 12 Conference Tournament title. Houston has been obliterating teams throughout the tournament, covering with ease. The Cyclones have taken care of business in both of the postseason games as well. Which elite defense will end up on top on Saturday night, and more importantly, which team will cover?
IOWA STATE VS. HOUSTON DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: March 16, 2024
- Game Time: 6:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN, ESPN+
IOWA STATE VS. HOUSTON PREDICTION
There’s no doubt that these are two of the best teams in the country. They have the first and second ranked defenses in the country, but the Cougars might be a little short handed for the championship game. J’Wan Roberts got a little banged up at the end of Houston’s last game. If he’s not at full strength, the Cyclones will have a serious edge…
These two teams split the season series, both both games were insanely close down the stretch. Even with Houston’s surging offense, I don’t see this game getting out of hand. Iowa State will have an edge with a home-crowd type atmosphere, the Cyclones faithful always shows up in Kansas City. Coming off an emphatic win against Baylor last night, Iowa State has all the confidence in the world to knock off the top-ranked Cougs.
Iowa State plays a very similar style to Houston. They rely off forcing turnovers, and lean on their defense down the stretch. When two teams with similar identities face off, especially in a high-leverage situation like a conference championship, I almost always side with the underdog. They will be able to play Houston’s game and match their energy tonight, (hopefully) keeping them within the number.
Houston is without a doubt one of, if not the best overall team in the country. That doesn’t mean they have to cover every game, though. Fade the Cougars in the Big 12 conference tournament finals on Saturday, Iowa State has plenty of firepower to keep this one within a couple buckets. Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey found plenty of success against Houston earlier this year, and with Roberts potentially banged up in the paint for the Cougs, I like Iowa State’s chances with their plethora of forwards in the paint.
IOWA STATE VS. HOUSTON PICK
ISU +5.5 (-110) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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