The No. 2 Baylor Bears (17-0 overall, 9-0 Big 12) return to action following a COVID-19 pause to host the Iowa State Cyclones (2-16, 0-13) Tuesday. Tip-off for the lopsided matchup is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. Below, we analyze the Iowa State-Baylor college basketball odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Baylor sits atop the Big 12 standings, holding a two-game lead over Oklahoma. Iowa State is last thanks to a winless conference record.
Iowa State at Baylor: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:23 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Iowa State +1800 (bet $100 to win $1800) | Baylor -10000 (bet $10,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Iowa State +23.5, -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Baylor -23.5, -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Over/Under: 147.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Iowa State at Baylor: Three things to know
- Iowa State, losers of 12 straight, hasn’t won since Dec. 20 when it beat Jackson State 60-45 in a non-conference game. The Cyclones have lost each of their last four games by double digits. They did cover the spread Saturday despite falling to current-No. 8 Oklahoma 66-56 as 11.5-point underdogs. Junior G Raisir Bolton leads the Cyclones in scoring (15.7 points per game), rebounds (4.8 RPG), assists (3.9 APG) and steals (1.4 SPG).
- Baylor’s last five games were postponed due to a COVID-19 pause within the program. The Bears haven’t played since Feb. 2 when they won at then-No. 6 Texas 83-69 as 4.5-point favorites. Junior G Jared Butler’s 17.0 PPG leads four Bears in double figures. He also has a team-best 2.4 SPG, while junior G Davion Mitchell averages a team-best 5.8 APG and sophomore F Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua is the top rebounder (6.4 RPG).
- Baylor beat Iowa State 76-65 in early January with ISU covering as 15.5-point home underdogs. The Cyclones actually led 55-53 with 10:10 remaining, but the Bears scored the next 13 points in closing with a 23-10 run.
Special College Basketball Betting Promotion!
Bet $1 on any college basketball team money line, WIN an additional $100 (in free bets) if ANY team hits a 3-pointer today. Promotion available in CO, IN, MI, NJ, TN, VA and WV. IA and PA residents, don’t miss BetMGM‘s risk-free, first-bet offer!
Place your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!
Iowa State at Baylor: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Baylor 90, Iowa State 63
Money line (ML)
AVOID even if BetMGM posts a line as Baylor’s ML price is way too expensive.
Play our new free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Against the spread (ATS)
Back BAYLOR -23.5 (-110). Don’t be afraid of rust after the layoff.
When No. 1 Gonzaga came off a 16-day COVID-19 pause, it beat then-No. 3 Iowa 99-88, covering as a 4.5-point favorite.
When No. 3 Michigan came off a 22-day layoff, it won at Wisconsin 67-59 and covered as a 1-point-dog.
Sure, those spreads weren’t even close to the 23.5 Baylor is laying Tuesday, but Iowa State is awful. The Cyclones average 65.6 PPG (ranking 304th in the country) and 28.2 RPG (328th) with a 42% field-goal percentage (280th). Defensively, they allow 77.0 PPG (309th), 36.8 RPG (335th) and a 45.9% FG percentage (278th).
This should be over before halftime.
ATS: Iowa State 7-11 | Baylor 13-4
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 147.5 (-110) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager. Baylor, which will be eager to get back on the court, averages 87.0 PPG to rank second in the country (behind Gonzaga’s 93.4 PPG).
Iowa State has allowed 85.2 PPG across its last five road games.
Enough said.
O/U records: Iowa State 10-8 | Baylor 9-8
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
| JOHNNY PARLAY’S RECORD | W-L | SP | ROI |
| 2020-21 College hoops | 70-59-1 | 31-33 | +3.975 |
| College hoops since Jan. 1 | 55-42-1 | 26-23 | +10.7 |
| 2021 record (all sports) | 70-51-1 | 36-25 | +22 |
| *–SP: Strongest plays; ROI: Return on investment | |||
Follow @JohnnyParlay11 on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional college sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Auburn / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Tennessee / Texas / USC / Wisconsin
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]