Overview of the game
LSU is entering what should be an exciting time for its program during a cloudy period in school history. Coach Will Wade, who had been haunted by NCAA investigations and suspended once before, was fired before the start of the Tournament. The Tigers are in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in a row and will have to adjust to life without the man who helped lead them there.
Meanwhile, Iowa State has bounced back from last season, when it finished 2-21, under first-year coach T.J. Otzelberger. The Cyclones finished in seventh place in the Big 12th and earned their first trip back to the NCAA Tournament since 2019. Iowa State started the season 12-0 before taking on some adversity during conference play.
This is an interesting game for betting on March Madness since one program seems to be ascending, while the other program may be facing stormy times beyond this tournament.
Last games records
Iowa State lost to Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament 72-41 March 12. The Cyclones are 20-12. LSU lost to Arkansas 79-67 on March 11 in the SEC Tournament. The Tigers are 22-11 this season.
Matchup Information
Iowa State at LSU Betting Analysis
Iowa State Cyclones Betting Analysis
Iowa State took a major step forward this season despite not having a strong offense by nearly any metric. But sports betting guides show the Cyclones didn’t necessarily need a dynamic offense to be successful in the rough-and-tumble Big 12.
Iowa State clamped down on its opponents, limiting LSU to 62.7 points per game, which ranks 27th nationally. The Cyclones also limit opponents to 29.5 percent shooting from the perimeter, which ranks 18th nationally.
Iowa State struggled to put the ball in the hoop, ranking 277th nationally in offense by scoring 67.3 points per game. The Cyclones are also not dynamic on offense, ranking 242nd nationally by knocking down 32.6 percent of their 3-pointers.
Guard Izaiah Brockington has made a major impact as a senior for Iowa State. Brocking averages a team-high 17.2 points per game and also contributes 7.1 rebounds per game. Freshman Tyrese Hunter has also been a strong contributor, averaging 10.8 points per game.
LSU Tigers Betting Analysis
Sports betting guides show that while Iowa State’s defense is more than capable, LSU’s is even better. The Tigers limit opponents to 62.9 points per game, which ranks 30th nationally. The Tigers also hold opponents to 27.7 percent from beyond the 3-point line and 38.4 percent from the field, which is the fifth and ninth best marks nationally.
Tari Eason leads LSU in scoring by averaging 16.9 points per game. Darius Days (13.9 points per game), Xavier Pinson (10.1), and Brandon Murray (10.1) also score in double figures for the Tigers.
LSU usually gets the better of the rebounding battle with its opponents, holding a narrow rebounding margin of +2. The Tigers force their opponents into 18.0 turnovers per game.
Updates
Adam Miller Jr, an Illinois transfer, has been out for the entire season with a knee injury for LSU. There were no notable injuries for Iowa State.
- Iowa State is 17-15 against the spread.
- LSU is 19-14 against the spread.
- The total has gone under in 17 of the Cyclones’ 32 games.
- The total has gone under in 19 of the Tigers’ 33 games.
- Iowa State is 5-6 against the spread following a loss.
- LSU is 5-5 against the spread following a loss.
Iowa State at LSU Betting Preview
March Madness betting odds have LSU as a four-point favorite. The Tigers are -182 on the moneyline, while the Cyclones are +150 on the moneyline. Fans can make March Madness bets on the over/under, which is set at 127.5 points.
Iowa State at LSU Betting Prediction
This isn’t a game for people that love offensive basketball. Both teams lean hard on their defenses to keep them in games.
Iowa State has had its fair share of woeful offensive performances since the season started. Finding a way through the LSU defense won’t be easy.
The Tigers, meanwhile, have a lot of strange circumstances swirling around the program with their coach being fired. How LSU will be able to get things back on track will be an interesting transition for the players. The Tigers’ offense will be more effective than Iowa State and allow the Tigers to escape with a victory.
Bet LSU -4.
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