The top two teams in the Big 12 face off in the championship with the #7 Iowa State Cyclones (26-7, 13-5) facing off against the top-ranked Houston Cougars (30-3, 15-3) in Kansas City. These two teams split their two meetings in the regular season with the home team winning each one. Houston is looking to stay in the running for the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, while Iowa State could use a signature win like this to cement them as a 2-seed.
Can the Cyclones pull off the upset?
Iowa State Cyclones vs Houston Cougars Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | MoneyLine |
| Iowa State Cyclones | +5.5
-112 |
O 123
-108 |
+210 |
| Houston Cougars | -5.5
-108 |
U 123
-112 |
-258 |
| **Odds Courtesy of DraftKings** | |||
Iowa State Cyclones vs Houston Cougars Game Details
- Fixture: Iowa State Cyclones vs Houston Cougars
- Date and Time: March 16, 2024 @ 6:00 pm EST
- Location: T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO
Apex Tale of the Tape
| Iowa State Cyclones | Vs. | Houston Cougars |
| 26-7 | Record | 30-3 |
| 75.8 | Points Per Game | 74.0 |
| 46.2 | FG% | 43.9 |
| 34.6 | 3PT% | 35.1 |
| 34.0 | Rebounds Per Game | 37.8 |
| 61.9 | Points Allowed Per Game | 56.6 |
| 40.4 | Defensive FG% | 37.5 |
| 34.6 | Defensive 3PT% | 29.6 |
| 71.0 | Defensive FT% | 67.2 |
| 33 | Defensive Rebounds Against | 33.8 |
| 4-1 | Last 5 W-L | 5-0 |
| 67.4 | Team Pace | 63.4 |
Key Stats
Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State Cyclones played Baylor in the previous game took the lead and never looked back with a 76-62 win against the Bears. The Cyclones are 8th in the NET and 9th in KenPom. They are second in adjusted defense on KenPom at 88.4. They are also a top-five scoring defense in the country, allowing 61.9 points per game. Their offense has also been solid with four players averaging over double digits, led by Keshon Gilbert at 13.7 points per game. Tamin Lipsey has also been key with 12.4 points per game.
Houston Cougars
The Houston Cougars have looked unbeatable recently with blowout wins against both TCU and Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament. Houston is the best team in college basketball metrics-wise, ranking first in the NET and in KenPom. They are also the best defense in college basketball, allowing 56.6 points per game and they are first in KenPom in adjusted defense at 86.5. Their offense has also been very good with three different players averaging over double digits, led by L.J. Cryer at 15.6 points per game, but the team leader is Jamal Shead, who averages 13.2 points per game and leads in both assists at 6.3 and in steals at 2.3.
Game Prediction
These two teams are two of the best defensive teams in all of college basketball. This is going to be a slugfest and one of the best championship games during all of championship week. Houston is so tough to beat and Iowa State has beaten them before, but they don’t have the overall offensive firepower to beat the Cougars. This game should be close for most of the game, especially with Iowa State fans being one of the best fanbases when it comes to traveling, but expect Houston to pull away to cover and win the Big 12 Championship game.
Final Pick
Houston Cougars -5.5
Jake is a huge basketball fan. He follows college hoops and the latest news all year round! Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
