March Madness Round 1: South Dakota State vs Iowa State Analysis & Score
South Dakota State vs Iowa State Preview: Cyclones Open at -16.5
South Dakota State vs Iowa State Final Score
South Dakota State vs Iowa State Preview
Who stands the best chance to ruin UConn’s bid for back-to-back Final Fours? That could be No. 2 seed Iowa State, which opens NCAA Tournament play Thursday (7:35 p.m. ET) against No. 15 South Dakota State in Omaha, Neb. The Huskies and Cyclones are the top two seeds in the East Region.
Iowa State opened as 16.5-point favorites at -112 odds, with the moneyline at -2400. Conversely, South Dakota State is priced +1200 to pull off the upset. Meanwhile, the projected total is 134.
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down the odds in our South Dakota State vs Iowa State preview.
NCAA First Round: East Region
Cyclones vs Jackrabbits 
Day/Time:
Location: CHI Omaha Health Center; Omaha, Neb.
Streaming: truTV
South Dakota State vs Iowa State Betting Trends
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are 16-14-1 ATS, including 6-2 over their last eight NCAAB games. As for the Over/Under, the Jackrabbits are 15-15-1. Meanwhile, the Iowa State Cyclones are 23-10-1 ATS, having covered at the seventh highest rate (69.7%) in the country. The Cyclones’ games have trended toward the Under, as they are 16-18 against the Over/Under.
Be sure to remember these trends when assessing our South Dakota State vs Iowa State preview.
Balance Key for Summit League Champs
South Dakota State is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons after winning the Summit League Tournament. The top-seeded Jackrabbits outlasted Denver 76-68 in the final to cash in as +130 favorites.
South Dakota State (22-12, 12-4) has won eight straight and 10 of its last 11 games to hit the 20-win plateau for the third time in five years under Eric Henderson. Coincidentally, Henderson succeeded T.J. Otzelberger, who is now coaching at Iowa State.
The Jackrabbits are balanced offensively, with four NCAAB players averaging double figures in points. Guard Zeke Mayo is the team’s top scorer (18.8 PPG), but he’s gotten plenty of help from forward Luke Appel, who averaged 14.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in the conference tournament.
South Dakota State’s issues mostly come on the defensive end. It’s allowed the fourth-highest rate of 3-point attempts in the country. The Jackrabbits rank 163rd in adjusted defensive efficiency.
South Dakota State has been an underdog six times this college basketball season, including by as many as 9.5 points. It is 4-2 ATS and 2-4 OU in those games. Keep that in mind when analyzing our South Dakota State vs Iowa State preview.
Iowa State Rides Defense to Top Billing in Big 12
Iowa State was slotted as a No. 2 seed in the East after many thought it’d done enough to leapfrog North Carolina on top line. The seventh-ranked Cyclones (27-7, 13-5) throttled No. 1 Houston 69-41 to win the Big 12 Conference final, overcoming +490 tournament odds.
In addition to beating Houston twice, the Cyclones also own wins over Kansas, BYU and Baylor. Combine those with the Cyclones’ outstanding peripheral rankings — No. 5 in KenPom and No. 6 in NET — and you have one of the most complete resumes in the NCAA basketball standings. As such, oddsmakers are bullish on the Cyclones, pricing them +2000 to win the national title. Only seven schools have shorter NCAAB odds.
The Cyclones, the country’s top-rated defensive team, are built to smother opponents with sheer size and physicality. Only one NCAAB team forces more turnovers and allows fewer made shots per game. Opponents are averaging only 61.3 points on 40% shooting.
UNLV transfer Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey headline the backcourt, and with 6-foot-8 Milan Momcilovic, there’s also talent in the paint. Momcilovic, a freshman, had 18 points and six rebounds in the Big 12 final.
The Cyclones covered in all three conference tournament games and are 10-4 ATS over their last 14.
Handicapping the Game
The NCAA Selection Committee didn’t do Iowa State any favors, placing the Big 12 champions in the same region as defending national champion UConn, the tournament’s top overall seed. That’s especially true, considering the Cyclones could’ve had a No. 1 seed of their own.
That said, they shouldn’t have any issues getting off the mat in the opening round. South Dakota State has not played anyone who’s as well-rounded defensively as the Cyclones. Remember that when making your college basketball picks today.
We’ve seen our share of No. 2-15 upsets over the years, but this is highly unlikely to be one of them.
For NCAA March Madness scores, betting odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
