K-State Wildcats vs. Iowa State Cyclones: TV, time, odds and Big 12 game prediction

The Kansas State Wildcats will play their final home game of the season when they host the Iowa State Cyclones at 1 p.m. on Saturday inside Bramlage Coliseum.

Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff, plus a score prediction:

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Bramlage Coliseum (Manhattan)

TV: ESPN2

Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita

Betting line: Iowa State by 3.5

Over/Under: 133.5

STARTING LINEUPS

About Iowa State (24-6, 13-4)

The Cyclones are coming off a 68-63 win over BYU. They have won their past four games to stay within one game of Houston in the Big 12 standings. A win on Saturday, combined with a Houston loss, would net them a share of the regular season conference title.

No matter what, Iowa State is looking at a quality seed in the NCAA Tournament. This has been a breakthrough season for TJ Otzelberger, thanks in large part to a balanced roster that doesn’t rely on any one player for the bulk of its points. But Keshon Gilbert leads the team with 13.6 points.

About Kansas State (17-13, 7-10)

The Wildcats are coming off a blowout loss against the rival Kansas Jayhawks that more or less ended their hopes of earning an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. But they will have plenty to play for at home on senior day. K-State needs a win, or a Cincinnati loss, to earn a bye in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.

Tylor Perry is leading the Wildcats in scoring, but he was quiet against KU. Cam Carter has been in a slump of late and only scored three points against the Jayhawks.

Iowa State at K-State prediction

The Wildcats should play their best in this game.

There will be no shortage of motivation for them. Iowa State beat K-State earlier this season at Hilton Coliseum amid spying accusations from KSU coaches. So revenge will be on the mind. It’s also a rivalry game on senior day and Jerome Tang just blasted his players for not showing effort after their most recent loss at Kansas.

If K-State can’t get up for this one, something is seriously wrong.

Question is: Will an inspired effort from the Wildcats be enough for them to close out the regular season with a win?

The answer might be yes. K-State is 13-3 at home this season with victories over Baylor and Kansas. The Wildcats are more than capable of pulling off another upset against the Cyclones.

But the answer might also be no, because Iowa State is really good. The Cyclones are ranked inside the top 10, and they have won road conference games against UCF, Cincinnati, Texas and TCU. It’s not like most years when they are hard to beat at home and vulnerable away from Ames.

The Cyclones are also a bad matchup for the Wildcats. Why? Because they force turnovers at a rate of 26%, a number that ranks second in the nation. That could be terrible news for a K-State team that commits turnovers at a rate of 21.2%, a number that ranks 350th in the nation.

Otzelberger’s team can also hit the glass and grab a bunch of offensive rebounds.

Iowa State doesn’t have enough firepower on offense to run away from K-State, so this game should be close in the final minutes. If the Wildcats can make a few timely shots they very well may win. But if they give the Cyclones too many cheap points in transition then late-game heroics may not matter.

This is not a good matchup for K-State. So give me the Cyclones in a close one.

Iowa State 69, K-State 65

Last game prediction: Kansas 77, K-State 70 (Actual result: Kansas 90, K-State 68)

Season Record: 24-6

Season Record ATS: 14-16

Season Record O/U: 20-10