Iowa State Cyclones vs Kentucky Wildcats Point Spread Picks

Kentucky has survived numerous close calls to reach this point. None closer than an 89-84 overtime win against Santa Clara this past Friday. The battle tested Wildcats draw Iowa State when the Cyclones may not have their star player, Joshua Jefferson. He injured his left ankle in the first half of Friday's 108-74 rout of Tennessee State and did not return. Jefferson was on the team's bench in the second half using crutches, with a boot on his left foot. Jefferson not only is one of the best players in the Big 12, but the entire country with across-the-board numbers of 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game this season. Kentucky has its own star in senior guard Otega Oweh. He is averaging 18.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Oweh has had 20 or more points in six of his last seven games and is off his best performance of the season, racking up 35 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the overtime win against Santa Clara. The Wildcats have been up and down this season, but the timing is right for them to pull an upset here. Their athleticism, length and size can bother Iowa State, especially if Jefferson is out or severely impacted. Take Kentucky.

Kentucky as expected, opened up a huge lead, and coasted in the second half in their opener. They did not expend a lot of energy in doing so. Iowa St. looked like they would have an easy one vs. UConn, opening a 36-14 lead to start the game, but UConn came roaring back to cut the deficit to 6 with possession, but could get no closer. This is a dominate Kentucky team, one that has blistered opponents by double-digits 24 times already on the season, and it is “show time” now, so look for their "A" game in this one. They remind me of the 2008-09 North Carolina team that couldn't cover anything in the regular season, but when the bright lights went on, they were what everyone expected them to be and more. From here on out, I look for the Wildcats to do the same. Play on Kentucky in this one.