Free NCAA Hoops Pick: Cowboys vs. Flames CBB Odds
Looking for Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Liberty Flames NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Cowboys taking on the Flames on Friday March 19, 2021 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all college basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily basketball predictions like this Cowboys Flames matchup.
2021 NCAA Basketball Handicapping
(20-8) #4 Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. #13 Liberty Flames (23-5)
Date: Friday March 19, 2021
Time: 6:30 PM ET
Venue: Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana
CBB Moneyline Odds: Oklahoma State -350 , Liberty +280
CBB Betting Odds: Oklahoma State -7.5
CBB Betting Total: O/U 139.5
The Liberty Flames and the Oklahoma State Cowboys square off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Cowboys are the #4 seed whereas the Flames are a #13 seed and will look to bust some brackets.
This Midwest Region matchup includes a Liberty team that enters the contest as winners of 12 straight games. They won the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament.
Oklahoma State lost to Texas in the Big 12 Conference tournament finals. They had won three straight games entering that contest and were victors in eight of the previous nine.
Liberty Flames
The Flames won the Atlantic Sun Conference title for the third straight season. They avoided an upset by the #5 North Alabama Lions 79-75 and held off a second half comeback as they were outscored by 6 points.
Liberty had 4 double digit scorers including guard Darius McGhee who recorded a game high 21 points and 8 rebounds.
This is their fifth NCAA tournament appearance overall. They earned their first tournament victory ever in the 2019 first round when they defeated Mississippi State, 80-76. They were the #12 seed in that matchup so they are familiar with an underdog role. However, they lost to Virginia Tech in the next game, 67-58, leaving the Flames with a 1-4 overall tournament record.
Liberty is led in scoring by Darius McGhee, averaging 15.5 ppg. He is shooting 46.4% from the field, 41.4% from the three-point range, and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Chris Parker is second on the team in scoring at 10.1 points per game, hitting on 46.2% of his shots and 81.8% of his free throws.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Cowboys fell just short in their bid for the Big 12 Championship, losing to Texas by a 91-86 count as 3-point underdogs. Still, other than a 12-point loss at Kansas Feb. 8, Oklahoma State has played pretty well. It is 8-3 straight up and against the spread across its past 11 games, including victories over Baylor, West Virginia (x2), Oklahoma (x2) and Texas Tech.
Oklahoma State returns to the NCAA tournament for the 29th time in school history, but the first time since 2017. They lost to Michigan in the first round that year, their fifth straight first-round exit. The Cowboys won the national championship in both 1945 and 1946.
Oklahoma State is led in scoring by BIG12 player of the year Cade Cunningham at 19.7 points per contest. He is second in rebounding at 6.3 per game. Cunningham has been an outstanding shooter, connecting on 45.5% of his field goals and 42.5% of his three-point attempts. Avery Anderson is the only other Cowboys player averaging in double digits at 11.1 points per game.
CBB Betting Trends:
- Liberty is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as the underdog
- Liberty is 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games at a neutral site
- Liberty is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games
- Oklahoma State is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games at a neutral site as the favorite
- Oklahoma State is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA tournament games
- Oklahoma State is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 NCAA tournament games as the favorite
- Oklahoma State is 8-3 ATS and SU in last 11 games
- Oklahoma State OVERS are 7-1 in last 8 games
Free Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Liberty Flames NCAAB Prediction:
I do not doubt that Oklahoma State wins this game. They have the size and are going to remove those second and third opportunities from Liberty by how well they play defensively around their own basket. Plus, Cunningham is an absolute talent. He has the ability to dominate games, and he will be the reason they win.
However, the Flames are going to be able to keep this game close. They are an outstanding shooting team and can hit from anywhere on the court. They can drive to the basket or step out for the three. That keeps this game close and is why I take Liberty and the points.
4* Free CBB Betting Pick: Liberty +7.5
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