Big 12 Conference Play Tips Off
Can Marcus Smart lead No. 6 Oklahoma State to a win over Kansas State in its conference-opener?
Conference play gets underway in the Big 12 Saturday with four games on the schedule.
The day’s headline matchup pits No. 6 Oklahoma State (12-1, 0-0 Big 12) against last year’s Big 12 tournament runners-up, Kansas State (10-3, 0-0 Big 12).
Oklahoma State has used a high-octane offense to surge past its opposition this season and only a loss to Memphis – a side the Cowboys beat on November 19 – mars the team’s record. Now it’s time for Marcus Smart and Co. to prove they can win in the conference.
Kansas State had a rocky start to the year, losing three of its first five, but an eight-game winning streak heading into conference play means the Wildcats are finding form when they need it. A win over then-No. 21 Gonzaga on December 21 stands out as the team’s greatest success so far this year. A win over the Cowboys on Saturday would eclipse that.
The Wildcats have won three of the last four regular season meetings between the sides and also eliminated the Cowboys from last year’s Big 12 Tournament.
Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Kansas State Wildcats odds for 01/04/2014
Elsewhere on Saturday, No. 13 Iowa State (12-0, 0-0 Big 12) will look to continue its undefeated season by picking up a win on the road against Texas Tech (8-5, 0-0 Big 12).
The Red Raiders were picked by bookmakers in the preseason to finish dead last in the conference. They’ll be looking to prove their doubters wrong this season, beginning with Saturday’s home game against the Cyclones.
Iowa State has picked up quality wins over Michigan and rivals Iowa already this season, and will be favored to win in Lubbock on Saturday. The Cyclones have taken three of four from the Red Raiders, although the teams split a two-game series a year ago, with each winning on its home floor.
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders odds for 01/04/2014
Having finished last season at the bottom of the Big 12 standings, TCU (9-3, 0-0 Big 12) will look to begin this season with a win over fellow cellar dwellers, West Virginia (8-5, 0-0 Big 12).
After beginning the year 0-2, TCU has picked up nine wins from 10 games, with the sole loss in that stretch coming against Harvard in the Great Alaska Shootout on December 1. West Virginia meanwhile has dropped four of its last seven, although two of those games came against ranked opposition.
The Mountaineers defeated the Horned Frogs twice last season, West Virginia’s first year in the Big 12. Those games represented the first ever meetings between the schools on a basketball court.
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. TCU Horned Frogs odds for 01/04/2014
In a prime time matchup, Oklahoma (11-2, 0-0 Big 12) will travel to Austin to take on Red River rivals Texas (11-2, 0-0 Big 12).
With matching records, the game will represent a chance for both sides to gain an early advantage over their rival, not to mention bragging rights.
The Sooners enter the game on the back of an unexpected loss to Louisiana Tech just before the New Year. Until that point, Lon Kruger’s side had lost only to a No. 1 ranked Michigan State.
Texas also lost to the Spartans in a matchup on December 21, adding to an earlier loss to BYU. A win over Rice on December 30 means the Longhorns will go into this showdown with some momentum, as well as home court advantage. Home court advantage is huge too; the Sooners haven’t won in Texas since February 2005.
The two sides split a pair last season, each winning at home, but Texas has won seven of the last eight.
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns odds for 01/04/2014
No. 16 Kansas (9-3, 0-0 Big 12) will have to wait until next Saturday to kick start its conference campaign with a rivalry matchup against Kansas State.
In the meantime, the Jayhawks host No. 21 San Diego State (11-1, 1-0 MWC) at Allen Fieldhouse in one of Sunday’s three games between ranked opponents. Odds for this clash of AP titans will be available here as soon as they become available.
No. 9 Baylor (12-1, 0-0 Big 12) meanwhile will travel to Ames, Iowa, on Tuesday to commence the conference portion of its campaign against Iowa State.
Saturday’s Big 12 Schedule
All times p.m. ET
1:30 No. 13 Iowa State at Texas Tech
4:00 No. 6 Oklahoma State at Kansas State
4:00 West Virginia at TCU
8:00 Oklahoma at Texas
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