NCAAB Pick: Texas A&M +1.5 (-110) at Bookmaker (visit our Bookmaker Review)
We are down to the last nine days of the college basketball regular season for the schools from major conferences. Once again the Top 25 teams have gotten beat up against the NCAAB odds and we wonder if that will continue this Saturday. Here are our thoughts on what will happen to three ranked clubs.
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Iowa State Cyclones
Saturday, February 25, 2023 – 12:00 PM EST at James H. Hilton Coliseum
Since its impressive 78-67 victory at home against Texas as 2.5-point home favorites, it has been a bumpy ride for Iowa State (17-10, 14-13 ATS). The Cyclones are 3-7 and 2-8 ATS. Though the Big 12 is clearly the best conference in college hoops this season, Iowa State needs to start winning games or they will fall from a three-seed to a five-seed or worse if the losses keep mounting.
If there was ever a team in the – wrong place, wrong time – it is Oklahoma (13-15 SU & ATS). The Sooners are 3-12 SU in conference play, yet own a victory in Norman over highly-ranked Alabama by an astonishing 24 points. Every now and again, Oklahoma will have an offensive outburst as they did against the Crimson Tide, however, on the road the Sooners are 1-7 (3-5 ATS), losing by 11.3 PPG.
There is No Place Like Home For Iowa State
One of the Cyclones' losses this season was at Norman, falling 63-60 to Oklahoma as 3.5-point favorites. Besides the revenge factor and the Sooners’ road woes, Iowa State is 13-1 (9-5 ATS) and has won by 19.3 PPG at Hilton Coliseum.
With a season-ending battle with Baylor next Saturday, the ‘Clones need impressive triumphs over Oklahoma and West Virginia to regain some confidence and earn it.
Score Prediction: Iowa State 69 - Oklahoma 59
NCAAB Pick: Iowa State -7 (-110) at Bookmaker
Texas A&M Aggies vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Saturday, February 25, 2023 – 03:30 PM EST at Humphrey Coliseum
Most teams make their hay in the nonconference part of their schedule, creating lofty expectations, only to have their conference foes drag them down.
Not coach Buzz Williams’ Texas A&M (21-7, 19-9 ATS) crew this season. The Aggies were only 8-5 SU playing out of the SEC, losing to Murray State, Colorado, and Wofford, and presently not one of those squads is in the upper half of their conferences. But once SEC action started, the Aggies clicked and are 13-2, with 11 spread winners.
Mississippi State (18-10, 15-12-1 ATS) went the more traditional route beginning 11-1 out of conference and hitting the wall. The Bulldogs began SEC action 1-7 (3-5 ATS) not helped one bit having to play Alabama and Tennessee in that stretch. A turning point was beating a sizzling TCU team at home in double OT 81-74 which gave the Bulldogs some belief and they are 6-2 and 7-1 ATS since.
In a Nail-Biter, Texas A&M Hold Off the 'Dogs
There is every reason to think this will be a physical back-and-forth affair. The Aggies are of only six clubs with 19-point spread victories and they are 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS on the road. Their mental toughness and clutch play away from home will allow them to squeak out a win in Starkville.
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Score Prediction: Texas A&M 65 - Mississippi State 61
NCAAB Pick: Texas A&M +1.5 (-110) at Bookmaker
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Kansas Jayhawks
Saturday, February 25, 2023 – 04:00 PM EST at Allen Fieldhouse
Kansas (23-5, 14-14 ATS) is starting to play like Kansas again, on a 5-0 SU and ATS run and 7-1 SU and ATS since losing three in a row last month, after their clutch victory at TCU Monday night leaving them in a tie for first place with Texas.
The Jayhawks are now finding a variety of ways to win, which can be on defense, three-point shooting, two-point accuracy, or going to the free throws and draining a hoard of free throws.
Coach Bill Self’s genius had been on display all season and he’s had to figure out this group's strengths and weaknesses.
Why the Jayhawks Put West Virginia Away
West Virginia (16-12, 13-15 ATS) is a one-trick pony under coach Bob Huggins. Either they turn teams over and score that way or force errant shots.
Why the Mountaineers are seldom a factor in the Big 12 anymore, especially on the road, a smart coach like Self with more skilled players can break West Virginia’s defense down and generate layups for plenty of easy points. There is a reason why the ‘Teers are 2-7 and 3-6 ATS on the road. For your NCAAB picks, look for Kansas to cruise to a win and cover.
Score Prediction: Kansas 74 - West Virginia 60
NCAAB Pick: Kansas -11 (-110) at Bookmaker
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
