- The top two seeds in the Big 12 will meet in the championship on Saturday
- #7 Iowa State will play #1 Houston in the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO to bring the Big 12 Tournament to a close
- Read below for the Iowa State vs Houston odds, predictions, and player props
The championship is set. Iowa State and Houston split their regular season series. Houston is looking to win the Big 12 Tournament the first year they are in the conference, while Iowa State is looking for their first tournament championship victory since 2019.
To reach the championship game, Iowa State beat Kansas State 76-57 and then Baylor in the semifinals. Houston has not broken much of a sweat in its first Big 12 Tournament appearance. It beat TCU 60-45 in the quarterfinals and followed that up with an 82-59 victory over Texas Tech.
Iowa State vs Houston Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State Cyclones | +5 (-110) | +180 | Over 121.5 (-110) |
| Houston Cougars | -5 (-110) | -218 | Under 121.5 (-110) |
Odds as of March 16 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
The college basketball odds have Houston as 5-point favorites in the Big 12 Championship. With moneyline odds of -218, the sportsbooks are giving Houston a 68.55% chance to win the Big 12 Title in their first season in the conference.
The O/U is set at 121.5 in this one, so the sportsbooks are expecting a low-scoring battle between Iowa State and Houston.
Iowa State won the first meeting between these two teams at home 57-53. Then in their second matchup of the year, Houston won by eight as 7.5-point favorites. The score was 73-65, resulting in the over hitting.
Houston also has the second-best March Madness odds in the country, at +600, trailing only UConn. Iowa State currently has the eighth-best odds to win the NCAA Tournament, at +2500.
Iowa State Betting Trends
Iowa State has been one of the best against the spread teams this year. The Cyclones are 22-10-1 ATS (68.8%). That record is good for eighth best in the country. Iowa State has covered each of their Big 12 Tournament games so far.
Cyclones vs Cougars.
Championship Saturday Night.
Our Home Away From Home. #Cyclones | #C5C pic.twitter.com/gLS8gRpTO4
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) March 16, 2024
While the Cyclones have scored 76 points in each of their last two games, Iowa State is known for its defense. It is ranked second in adjusted defensive efficiency and only trails its opponent, Houston, in that category. The total has only gone over once in Iowa State’s last five games.
Iowa State’s offense has come alive in the Big 12 Tournament, and a lot of that comes from their leading scorer, Keshon Gilbert. Gilbert is fresh off a 20-point outing against Baylor in the semifinals. Gilbert does not just score, though. He is second on the team in assists and third in rebounds. If Iowa State wants to win another Big 12 title, he will need to play another great game against Houston’s Jamal Shead.
Houston Betting Trends
This Houston team has looked unbeatable over the past couple of months. The Cougars have won eleven games in a row and sixteen of their last seventeen. Houston’s against-the-spread record is 16-15-2 this season, and it has covered the spread in each of its last three games.
The Houston Cougars are absolutely on fire 🔥@UHCougarMBK forces a @TexasTechMBB timeout amidst a 20-1 scoring run over the last six minutes.
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/kykVEr2No7
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 16, 2024
Houston has the #1 scoring defense in the country and is also ranked first in adjusted defensive efficiency. Kelvin Sampson and Houston have always been a strong defense, but they have struggled to score points when needed in the past. This year is different.
Led by Jamal Shead and LJ Cryer, Houston is averaging 74 points per game. The Cougars put up 82 last night against Texas Tech and have scored at least 67 points in ten of their last eleven games. With a total of 121.5, Houston would like that score.
In the Big 12, Houston has not shied away from playing good teams. The Cougars have played well against ranked opponents this season, as they are 5-1-1 ATS against Top 25 teams.
Iowa State vs Houston Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curtis Jones (ISU) | 9.5 (Ov -130 | Un +100) | 3.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -175 | Un +135) |
| Emmanuel Sharp (HOU) | 12.5 (Ov +100 | Un -130) | 4.5 (Ov +130 | Un -166) | OFF | 2.5 (Ov +130 | Un -166) |
| Ja’Vier Francis (HOU) | 6.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | 5.5 (Ov -140 | Un +110) | OFF | OFF |
| Jamal Shead (HOU) | 13.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | 3.5 (Ov -135 | Un +100) | 5.5 (Ov -135 | Un +105) | 1.5 (Ov +140 | Un -180) |
| Keshon Gilbert (ISU) | 13.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 4.5 (Ov -130 | Un +100) | 3.5 (Ov -135 | Un +105) | 0.5 (Ov -195 | Un +150) |
| LJ Cryer (HOU) | 14.5 (Ov -105 | Un -120) | 2.5 (Ov +150 | Un -195) | OFF | 2.5 (Ov -130 | Un +100) |
| Milan Momcilovic (ISU) | 7.5 (Ov +114 | Un -145) | 2.5 (Ov -160 | Un +124) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov +180 | Un -238) |
| Robert Jones (ISU) | 6.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 4.5 (Ov +110 | Un -140) | OFF | OFF |
| Tamin Lipsey (ISU) | 9.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) | 4.5 (Ov +100 | Un -130) | 3.5 (Ov -140 | Un +110) | 0.5 (Ov -200 | Un +154) |
| Tre King (ISU) | 8.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 5.5 (Ov -135 | Un +105) | OFF | 0.5 (Ov +105 | Un -135) |
College basketball player props from DraftKings on March 16.
LJ Cryer leads Houston with 15.6 points per game, which is over his current points prop of 14.5. Cryer has also made at least three three-pointers in six of his last seven games, including six last night against Texas Tech. So, +130 odds for over 2.5 three-pointers could be worth a look, even in what should be a low-scoring game.
Tamin Lipsey is averaging 4.8 assists per game, so even with -140 odds, over 3.5 assists offers bettors some value.
Iowa State vs Houston Prediction
These two teams are very similar, so this should make for a great Big 12 Title game. Both want to play good defense, force turnovers, and cause havoc for opposing offenses. Houston and Iowa State are very good at this as they ranked #1 and #2 in many key defensive metrics.
The two times these teams have played this year have been fantastic games, and this should be another. It will be a low-scoring battle, hard-fought battle.
Houston is the hotter team, and their offense has been more consistent than Iowa State’s. In their last six games of the regular season, the Cyclones averaged just 63 points per game. Houston will find more ways to score and pull away at the end, covering the spread.
2024 Big 12 Title Game Pick:
- Houston -5 (-110)
The Iowa State Cyclones will face off against the Houston Cougars in the Big 12 Championship game on March 16th. Both teams have had impressive seasons so far, and this matchup is sure to be a thrilling one for college basketball fans.
The odds for this game are currently favoring Iowa State, with many sportsbooks listing them as the favorites to win. The Cyclones have been on a hot streak lately, winning their last five games in a row. Led by star player Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State has shown that they have what it takes to compete with the best teams in the country.
On the other hand, the Houston Cougars are no slouches either. They have also had a strong season, with a record of 25-7. Led by guard Quentin Grimes, Houston has proven themselves to be a tough team to beat. This game is sure to be a close one, with both teams fighting hard for the championship title.
In terms of player props, there are a few key players to keep an eye on in this matchup. For Iowa State, Tyrese Haliburton will be a player to watch. The sophomore guard has been a standout performer all season, averaging 15.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. Look for him to have a big impact on the game.
For Houston, Quentin Grimes will be a player to watch. The junior guard has been a key player for the Cougars all season, averaging 18 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Grimes has the ability to take over a game and lead his team to victory.
Overall, this game is shaping up to be an exciting one for college basketball fans. With two talented teams facing off for the Big 12 Championship title, it’s sure to be a game filled with high stakes and intense competition. Be sure to tune in on March 16th to see who comes out on top in this highly anticipated matchup.
