pitt +3.5
rider-6
iowa st -2.5
Now yes, the Cyclones have very uncharacteristically poor at home of late in losing SU their last three conference games. Of course two of those were to Texas and Kansas and the third an overtime affair to much improved Texas A&M. The Big XII is sorta wacky this year when you get past the first place Longhorns and the last place Baylor Bears. This league is wide open.
Colorado has played well, but there's no way you can like the fact that the Buffs are 3-26 SU in their last 29 in Ames. This is the kind of game where home court means a lot. Hilton gets rowdy and the home faithful haven't given up yet by any means.
Colorado is on runs of 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS, mostly on the strength of Richard Roby's shooting (he leads the conference in scoring and is averging 25.8 ppg in the last five games). But a closer look show the streak includes favored home wins over Kansas State, Nebraska and Baylor with road wins at so-so Missouri and the baby Cowboys of Oklahoma State. Now I don't want to poo-poo on winning in Columbia and Stillwater, I just think this is a bad spot for Colorado this afternoon.
Iowa State takes care of the basketball (56 assists and just 28 turnovers the last three games) and after a sub-par defensive effort last time out versus the Jayhwaks, I expect the Cyclones to bring a supreme defensive effort today. Colorado is the league's second-poorest free throw shooting team and while they can score, they rely too much on long range jumpers.
Curtis Stinson has been filling it up of late (26.3 ppg last four games) and he'll help carry the Cyclones today. The Buffs rarely win in Ames and they won't today as Iowa State pulls away down the stretch for this win and cover.
rider-6
iowa st -2.5
Now yes, the Cyclones have very uncharacteristically poor at home of late in losing SU their last three conference games. Of course two of those were to Texas and Kansas and the third an overtime affair to much improved Texas A&M. The Big XII is sorta wacky this year when you get past the first place Longhorns and the last place Baylor Bears. This league is wide open.
Colorado has played well, but there's no way you can like the fact that the Buffs are 3-26 SU in their last 29 in Ames. This is the kind of game where home court means a lot. Hilton gets rowdy and the home faithful haven't given up yet by any means.
Colorado is on runs of 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS, mostly on the strength of Richard Roby's shooting (he leads the conference in scoring and is averging 25.8 ppg in the last five games). But a closer look show the streak includes favored home wins over Kansas State, Nebraska and Baylor with road wins at so-so Missouri and the baby Cowboys of Oklahoma State. Now I don't want to poo-poo on winning in Columbia and Stillwater, I just think this is a bad spot for Colorado this afternoon.
Iowa State takes care of the basketball (56 assists and just 28 turnovers the last three games) and after a sub-par defensive effort last time out versus the Jayhwaks, I expect the Cyclones to bring a supreme defensive effort today. Colorado is the league's second-poorest free throw shooting team and while they can score, they rely too much on long range jumpers.
Curtis Stinson has been filling it up of late (26.3 ppg last four games) and he'll help carry the Cyclones today. The Buffs rarely win in Ames and they won't today as Iowa State pulls away down the stretch for this win and cover.
