Big 12 Tourney – Cowboys vs #5 Tigers NCAAB Handicapping Prediction
Oklahoma State (15-17) had an easy time beating a weak Texas Tech team in the first round of the Big 12 conference tourney, but not face a Missouri (27-4) team that ranks 8th in the nation in scoring and has one of the best backcourts in the nation.
Venue/ Stadium: Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
Time/Date: 7 PM EST Thursday, March 8, 2012
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): OFF
Over/Under: OFF
Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. No. 5 Missouri Tigers Preview
Still, Oklahoma State did beat Mizzou this season. The Tigers won their last 2 games of the season and if they can capture the conference tournament there is a chance they will get a #1 seed in the Big Dance.
In their last games OSU beat Texas Tech 76-60 in the Big 12 tourney and Mizzou beat Texas Tech 81-59 in their regular season finale.
This season Oklahoma State is 15-14-1 ATS and they have an O/U record of 15-14-1 and Mizzou is 15-9-2 ATS with an O/U record of 15-10-1.
OSU only ranked 8th in the Big 12 in opponents’ points allowed and that is not good facing a high scoring Missouri squad. The reason the Cowboys stunned the Tigers earlier this season is that they shot lights out (59.6%) from the field and held Mizzou to only 40% shooting. They may need to repeat that performance to have any chance to win this game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Mizzou has one of the best backcourts in the nation with the trio of Marcus Denmon (18 ppg), Kim English (14.1 ppg), and Michael Dixon (13.3 ppg). Denmon has been on fire averaging 19.9 ppg the last nine games while shooting 50.7% (36 of 71) from 3-point range. If the Cowboys do not play good perimeter D they are cooked.
The Cowboys must force the tigers into tough shots, as Mizzou ranks 3rd in the nation in FG%. In the 2nd match up when the Tigers got some revenge by easily beating the Cowboys Mizzou had 5 players that scored at least 13 points.
OSU is without 2nd leading scorer Le’Bryan Nash and they will need good games from 5’9″ speedster Keiton Page (16.9 ppg), who has averaged 23 ppg in his last 5 games, and G Markel Brown (10.5 ppg).
Neither team is good on the boards, but The Tigers do not need to be since they shoot such a high FG%. The Cowboys have to keep than from happening or they will lose big.
In some betting trends for this Big 12 quarterfinal match up Oklahoma State is 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 neutral site games, 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win, and they have an Over record of 6-2 in their last 8 games.
Mizzou is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win, and they have an Over record of 6-0 in their last 6 games.
Jason’s Pick: This one is not a tough one to call, as I think Mizzou will lay a beat down on OSU easily winning and covering the spread.
