The new year is here, and it’s time to turn the page on 2021 and begin 2022. And while our first day of the new calendar year is filled with college football bowl games, there’s a huge college basketball game on the docket, as well. No. 1 Baylor will face No. 8 Iowa State in a top-10 matchup to begin Big 12 conference play.
The defending national champion Baylor Bears are once again the talk of college basketball. The Bears, 12-0 on the season, are the No. 1 team in the nation for the third week in a row behind the stellar play of James Akinjo and L.J. Cryer. Baylor is also getting it done on the defensive end, allowing an average of only 56.8 points per game — 10th best in college basketball.
Somehow, the Bears’ stingy 56.8-point allowance is the inferior number in this matchup. Iowa State, under new coach T.J. Otzelberger, is holding its opponents to just 56.1 points per game — seventh in college basketball. The Cyclones’ defense is one of the many reasons why they’re undefeated on the season (12-0) and ranked inside the top-10 for the second straight week.
𝐂𝐘𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐘
No. 8 Cyclones 🆚 No. 1 Baylor
🕔 1 p.m. (CT)
📍 Hilton Coliseum
📺 ESPNU
🗒️ https://t.co/6PYSxDYPUs
📈 https://t.co/JHnRw72kS6
🖥️https://t.co/47CtTBiNne
🎟️ 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐎𝐔𝐓#Cyclones | #C5C pic.twitter.com/3o9FwFxwg0— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) January 1, 2022
While the two defenses duel, the Cyclones might have the one player in this game who can take over on the offensive side. That would be Izaiah Brockington, who is averaging 16.9 points on 42.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Look for his superiority as a scorer to be something that could be a game-changer.
Nevertheless, the stage is set and it’s time to see who will begin 2022 with a bang. The clash between the undefeated should live up to the hype on this New Year’s Day, and provide at least an early indication on how each team could fare during Big 12 play.
Game Lines (via Tipico Sportsbook)
Baylor Bears (-8.5) at Iowa State Cyclones
O/U 132.5
Futures
Baylor: +200 odds to win Big 12
Iowa State: +1500 odds to win Big 12
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