There are four matchups between two ranked teams today, and the final one is between No. 22 Arizona and No. 9 Iowa State. This is the second game this season between the two teams, and Arizona beat Iowa State 86-75 in overtime on January 27. The Wildcats have been 5-3 since then, while the Cyclones have been 4-4 during that stretch.
Here’s a college basketball pick for Saturday’s big game between Iowa State and Arizona.
Arizona at Iowa State (9:00 p.m. ET)
Iowa State is on a two-game losing streak, but they have been without their star guard, Keshon Gilbert, for the previous two games. Curtis Jones was also out against Houston last Saturday but returned on Tuesday at Oklahoma State. Gilbert practiced on Thursday, but his status for tonight’s game is still unknown.
After losing three of four games, Arizona bounced back against Utah on Wednesday with a 17-point win. Arizona’s best player, Caleb Love, has scored 23+ points in back-to-back games. Love was the hero against the Cyclones in January as he hit a game-tying buzzer-beater to force overtime.
Arizona has played well on the road this season, winning four of its previous five games away from Tucson. Iowa State has won three games in a row at home. This season, the Cyclones have been one of the best teams in the country at home, as they are 15-1.
The Wildcats held Iowa State to 43 percent shooting from the field in their first matchup. Iowa State is the favorite in this game at -5.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook. That line seems like Iowa State will have Gilbert back tonight. If Arizona’s defense can hold Jones and Gilbert each under 20 points, they will have a great chance to pull off the upset. Since Iowa State hasn’t been fully healthy lately, it is a great value to get Arizona +5.5.
