College Basketball Preview: Iowa State Cyclones vs. Kansas Jayhawks

The ninth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks (12-3) have a big test when they battle against the second-ranked Iowa State Cyclones (14-1) on Wednesday, January 15 at 7:00 PM ET at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones are favored at home with a point spread at -6.5 (+100 MyBookie).

Kansas Jayhawks Betting Preview

The Jayhawks look to extend their three-game win streak, but they have a tough matchup on the road once more. Their latest win was a 54-40 outing over the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Hunter Dickinson recorded his eighth double-double of the season with his performance of 14 points and 12 rebounds. They were down by one at the half, but the Jayhawks locked down defensively and were more consistent on offense in the second half.

This was a rough shooting night from both teams, as the Jayhawks were slightly better from the field with a 35.3 percent shooting rate. In addition, the Bearcats were held to 13.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc, but the Jayhawks were much worse at 9.5 percent. This has to change or their chances against the Cyclones are next to nothing.

The Jayhawks are producing an average of 77.3 points and connecting on 47.8 percent shooting each game. Their defense has allowed teams to get 62.1 points a game. Comparing the two averages, the Jayhawks have a great margin of error.

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

The Cyclones only have one blemish on their record so far and have won 11 straight since suffering that loss. Their most recent victory was an 85-84 overtime showdown against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

They were down by six at the half and had a heavy second half to come back. Joshua Jefferson hit the layup at the buzzer in regulation to force overtime and then nailed the two game-winning free throws with just under five seconds left. Curtis Jones led with 26 points and was one of three players to reach double digits.

They were the better shooting team with a 52.5 percent accuracy from the field, but allowed the Red Raiders to make 45.0 percent of their threes to keep them in the game. They will need to do a better job at defending beyond the arc if they want to continue their win streak.

The Cyclones are putting together 86.2 points a game and shoot 50.1 percent from the field. Their defense allows 65.9 points a game from opposing teams, making their spread quite appealing.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie showcases the Kansas Jayhawks vs. Iowa State Cyclones betting odds, with the Cyclones as 6.5-point favorites. Looking at market predictions, the Cyclones have a 63.8 percent chance of winning this battle. The Jayhawks will likely slow this game down and cover the spread.

Final Pick: Kansas Jayhawks +6.5 (-120)