Morgan State Bears vs Iowa State Cyclones NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/22/24
The Bears and Cyclones are set to face off at 1:00 ET on ESPN+. The Cyclones will host the game at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 160.5 points, and Iowa State is favored by -43.5 at home against Morgan State.
MORGAN STATE BEARS VS IOWA STATE CYCLONES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Morgan State Bears +43.5
This game will be played at Hilton Coliseum at 1:00 ET on Sunday, December 22nd.
WHY BET THE MORGAN STATE BEARS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Cyclones.
- Even though we have Iowa State winning straight-up, we like Morgan State at +43.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 160.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Taking a Look at the Bears Chances on the Road
The Bears improved to 2-8 this season with an 86-76 win over Campbell on Sunday. Morgan State, who were +6 point underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
After trailing 33-31 at halftime, the Bears erupted for 55 points in the 2nd half while allowing 43. The game’s total points hit 162, surpassing the O/U line of 151.
Morgan State’s offense was on fire in their last game, putting up 86 points on 66.7% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 70.4%, thanks to their 70.2% shooting on two-point attempts.
Will Thomas led the way with 27 points and 7 rebounds, while Kameron Hobbs and Nolan Dorsey each added 21 points. Hobbs also contributed 5 assists, and Dorsey hit 50% of his threes, going 3-for-6 from deep.
Despite Morgan State’s defensive struggles, they allowed 76 points on 66% shooting from the field. The Bears gave up 33 two-pointers on 47 attempts, with the opposing team shooting 70% inside the arc.
From beyond the arc, Morgan State’s defense faced only 7 three-point attempts, with 3 makes for 42%. They also sent the opposing team to the free-throw line 17 times, where they converted 11 free throws, shooting 64%.
Can the Cyclones Pull Off a Home Win?
Iowa State improved to 9-1 on the season with an 83-51 win over Omaha on Sunday. Despite being -34.5 point favorites, the Cyclones didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 134, falling short of the 148.5 O/U line.
Iowa State led 41-23 at halftime and added 42 points in the 2nd half while holding Omaha to 28 points after the break.
Iowa State’s offense was clicking in their last game, putting up 83 points on 53.3% shooting from the field. They were particularly effective inside, hitting 65% of their two-point attempts, while their three-point shooting lagged at 30% (6/20). Their effective field goal percentage was 58.3%, and they added 13 free throws on 72.2% shooting.
The Cyclones shared the ball well, dishing out 19 assists, with Keshon Gilbert contributing 4 along with his team-high 16 points. Milan Momcilovic and Tony Osburn each added 13 points, with Osburn hitting 3 threes. Iowa State also grabbed 12 offensive rebounds in the win.
Despite Iowa State’s defensive struggles, they managed to hold their opponent to 51 points. The Cyclones allowed a 53% shooting performance, with 32 made field goals on 60 attempts.
Inside the arc, Iowa State gave up 26 two-point baskets on 40 attempts, a 65% shooting rate. From three-point range, their opponent shot 30%, hitting 6 of 20 attempts. Iowa State also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 18 times, where they made 13 free throws, shooting 72%.