A Top-25 Big 12 contest comes to Ames, Iowa, this weekend as No. 16 Texas Tech looks to steal another key conference win on the road at No. 4 Iowa State at the Hilton Coliseum on Saturday at 2 p.m. on CBS. The Red Raiders (21-7, 11-4 Big 12) are coming off back-to-back wins over Kansas State and Cincinnati following JT Toppin’s season-ending ACL tear against Arizona State. The Cyclones (24-4, 11-4 Big 12) is also chasing late-season wins for a crack at the conference title after splitting its Utah road trip with a 75-59 win over the Utes and 79-69 loss at BYU. Here is a preview, prediction and key storylines for tipoff this weekend.
Texas Tech vs. Iowa State Game Odds
Iowa State opened as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5 points. The Cyclones are 15-0 at home and the only team in the Big 12 to remain unscathed on their home court with three games left in the regular season. By the time we got to Saturday morning, Iowa State was up to a 10.5-point favorite, and the over/under was up to 146.5 total points.
Key Storyline: No Toppin, No Problem?
Texas Tech guards Christian Anderson and Donovan Atwell have stepped up in the last two games since receiving the unfortunate news about Toppin, who was averaging 21.8 points per night before going down against Arizona State. Anderson posted a double-double with 31 points and 11 boards in the Cincinnati win on Tuesday; The Red Raiders posted five double-figure scorers in a 100-72 home win over Kansas State last week; Needless to say, the firepower is there.
Match Up to Watch: Momcilovic and Atwell
Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic (17.4 ppg) and Atwell are averaging 3.7 made 3s per game, and could each play a pivotal role for their respective sides beyond the curve this weekend in Ames. Iowa State typically holds teams to 42.% from the floor 31.8% from 3-point land.
Prediction: Iowa State 73, Texas Tech 66
Without Toppin, Texas Tech must account for that lost production on the road against an Iowa State team that has yet to lose at home this season. But, it’s do or die now for the Red Raiders as they make their case for the dance. This ticket is $110 for a reason, and that’s because Iowa State has a far better shot of sliding into a shared Big 12 title or whatever scenario should Arizona lose to Kansas and then the Cyclones next week. I expect Texas Tech to make this interesting, but it’s hard to sell me on a Toppin-less Tech team this late into the season.
More Big 12 Game Previews:
• Kansas vs. Arizona prediction and odds
• Baylor vs. UCF preview
• BYU vs. West Virginia prediction
