The #25 Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-2, 0-0 Big 12) battle the #11 Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-1, 0-1 Big 12) in mid-week action to begin their conference play. Iowa State opened up Big 12 action last weekend with a 77-72 loss to the defending national champion Baylor Bears. On Saturday, Texas Tech’s conference opener against Oklahoma State was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols within the Cowboys’ program.
Wednesday night’s tipoff is at 9 p.m. EST inside the James H. Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA. Iowa State is a 1-point favorite over the Red Raiders, and the over-under total is at 126.5 points.
What to Know – Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Red Raiders begin conference play with a stiff road test against the Cyclones. It will be just the second road tilt of the season for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech fell to Providence, 72-68 in their lone road test this year.
Texas Tech comes into the matchup averaging 78.2 points per game and shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from three. The Red Raiders hold opponents to 58.2 points per game, 37.6 percent from the floor, and 31.1 percent from deep.
Texas Tech took care of business in a 75-53 romp over Alabama State in their last game. Texas Tech shot 50.9 from the field and forced 23 Hornets turnovers. Davion Warren led the Red Raiders in scoring with 15 points.
The Red Raiders are 6-6 against the spread this year and 2-4 ATS over their last six. Texas Tech is 5-0 ATS in their last five games against Iowa State.
What to Know – Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones look to rebound after a tough conference-opening loss to Baylor. Iowa State swept their non-conference slate that included key victories over Xavier, Memphis, and Iowa. The Cyclones host their second-straight ranked opponent Wednesday night.
Iowa State pours in 73.0 points per game while shooting 45.6 percent from the floor and 34.1 percent from the 3-point line. Defensively, the Cyclones surrender 57.7 points per game and allow teams to shoot 38.0 percent from inside the arc and 25.3 from beyond the arc.
In the 77-72 defeat to the Bears, the Cyclones connected on just 1-of-14 shots from beyond the arc. Tristan Enaruna led the Cyclones in scoring with 23 points, and Izaiah Brockington added 18 in the loss.
Iowa State is 9-4 ATS on the season and 6-4 ATS on their home floor. The Cyclones are 5-1 ATS over their previous six games.
The Pick is In
A top-25 battle of two Big 12 foes is sure to draw interest from the college basketball community Wednesday night. Iowa State hung tough with Baylor, despite their shooting woes from deep. Texas Tech is a solid, well-coached team, but the Red Raiders don’t have the athleticism the Cyclones possess in the lineup.
It is hard to see the Cyclones dropping two-straight at home, so we are rolling with the host to notch their first Big 12 victory Wednesday night.
The Pick: Iowa State Cyclones -1
