Scott Drew and the Baylor Bears travel to Ames, Iowa, to clash with No. 7 Iowa State on Saturday afternoon for a 1:00 PM CT tipoff on ESPN. Baylor (13-9, 3-7 Big 12) has a talented roster but hasn’t found much consistency yet. In their last outing, they did smack Colorado around, however, with an 86-67 win. Meanwhile, No. 7 Iowa State (20-2, 7-2 Big 12) is one of the best teams in the nation and is chasing a No. 1 seed in March Madness if it can continue trending in its current direction. Here’s a preview, prediction, key storylines, and updated odds for tomorrow’s contest in Provo, Utah.
BAYLOR VS. IOWA STATE GAME ODDS
Iowa State is listed as a huge home favorite in this one with a 14.5-point spread, and the over/under remains at 151.5 points as of Saturday morning.
KEY STORYLINE: STAYING PERFECT
Just like the header says, Iowa State needs to emerge from this game still perfect at home. They are 12-0 this year in Ames, but the Big 12 is a gauntlet where even struggling teams can make a run and catch you off guard. Baylor’s won back-to-back games and has some incredible offensive firepower. Iowa State can’t afford to slip.
MATCH UP TO WATCH: BACKCOURT MATCHUPS FOR DAYS
There are a couple of options here, and most of them surround Iowa State star Tamin Lipsey going toe to toe with a bigger, more athletic player at his position. Whether that be Baylor’s leading scorer Cameron Carr, a 6-foot-5 athletic freak, posting nearly 20 points per game, or star freshman Tounde Yessoufou, who has a similar frame and stats to those of Carr. Iowa State has the benefit of an elite freshman of its own, Killyan Toure, who has quickly emerged as one of the best defenders in the Big 12. Absolutely can’t wait to watch this one!
PREDICTION: Iowa State 84, Baylor 76
Believe it or not, this game feels like a trap game for Iowa State. Now, have they dealt with similar adversity this season? Absolutely! Still, anytime you see Scott Drew with a roster full of stars, there’s a bit of nerves. The Bears are a Top 40 offense in points per game, yet they really struggle defensively, giving up 75 points per game to opponents, good for 219th in the country. Iowa State should win this one in the end, but there will be stretches of clock where the game looks up in the air for both sides.
