Rogers' 10* BEST OF THE BEST >> 3-0 Hoops SWEEP on Sunday!
(NCAAB) Iowa State vs. Texas Tech,
Point Spread: 1.50 | -102.00 Iowa State (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 17-9 Iowa State Cyclones and the 17-10 Texas Tech Red Raiders are both considered 'bubble' teams for at-large bids to the big Dance. The Cyclones are 9-5 in the Big 12, putting them in a stronger position than the Red Raiders, who check in at just 5-9 in league play (four games left for both teams in regular season play).

Iowa State: The Cyclones won the first meeting between the two schools, 63-56 in Ames back on Dec. 30th. ISU comes in on a three-game winning streak, as well as four wins in the eteam's last five. That 4-1 run includes a resume-building 92-89 victory over Kansas in Lawrence and also includes wins over Oklahoma, Kansas State and TCU, all by at least eight points. "That's when you want to play your best basketball – late in the season," Cyclones senior guard Naz Mitrou-Long said in a news conference after scoring a game-high 25 points Saturday vs. TCU. "I definitely feel we're starting to do that. We're putting some complete games together." Long (15.9 & 4.8) is one of four players (all listed as guards) who average in double figures. The others are PG Morris (16.0-4.5-6.0), Burton (14.3 & 6.7) and Thomas (11.6 & 4.1). The Cyclones can trdde points with most teams, averaging 80.7 PPG (34th).

Texas Tech: Chris Beard's (of Arkansas-Little Rock fame) first season at Tech has not been a smashing success, as Saturday's hard-luck OT loss at West Va. dropped Texas Tech to 1-7 SU on the road this season. However, the Red Raiders are a 'tough out' here in Lubbock, where they are 15-2 this season, which includes last Monday's 84-78 win over Baylor. Guard Evans (15.7) is the team's leading scorer but the team's strength is up front with a trio of 6-8 players in Smith (13.0 & 7.5), Livingston (10.6 & 3.7) and Ross (8.8 & 2.8). Texas Tech has lost three of four but two of its next three games are in Lubbock,

The pick: As noted, Tech has been a strong home team but while the team owns an "inside edge" over the perimeter-oriented Cyclones, one can see by the above numbers than neither Livingston nor Ross are good rebounders. Iowa State has won six of the last eight meetings with Texas Tech and makes it SEVEN of nine, here. Iowa State is a 10* play.