NCAAB: #6 Iowa State vs #2 Houston Odds, and Picks (Feb 19)

• Iowa State defeated Texas Tech, 82-74, improving to 7-1 over their last 8 games.
• Houston is also 7-1 in their last 8 games, after beating Texas by a score of 82-61.
• These two teams last faced off on January 9, in a game that Iowa State won 57-53.

Selection Sunday is just a month away! Let’s look at this crucial Big-12 matchup between the #6 Iowa State Cyclones and the #2 Houston Cougars. The winner will claim outright first place in the conference.

How to Watch

• ESPN

Preview

Iowa State continues to exceed expectations this season. They rose to #6 in the AP Poll after another week of winning, and hold a tie for 1st-place in the Big-12. They can take over that top spot outright if they defeat Houston here, but will face a tough task on the road. The Cyclones have been supported by their sensational defense, which ranks 3rd in the nation. They held Houston to just 53 points back on January 9.

Houston climbed back into the #2 spot in the AP Top 25, and continue to project as a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. They haven’t missed a single step in their first year since joining the Big-12 conference, and have a solid chance of winning it in their inaugural season. The Cougars came up short at Iowa State back in January, and will aim to even the series out here. Their #1 ranked defense will be their key to success.

Prediction

This is an excellent matchup featuring the top two teams in college basketball’s deepest conference. With first place in the Big-12 on the line, this should be a very competitive game. These two teams have two of the top three defenses in the country, which should make this another low-scoring game. Iowa State won at home in their first clash, with both teams combining for just 110 points. I see Houston winning this one.

NCAAB Picks:

• Houston 68, Iowa State 64 )