James H. Hilton Coliseum – Ames, IA
Tip-off: Monday, 9:00 p.m. ET
Line: Iowa State -5.0

No. 17 Iowa State hosts No. 15 Oklahoma on Monday in what is a big conference matchup.

No. 15 Oklahoma is coming off of a 67-60 home victory as an 11.5-point favorite over TCU on Saturday. The Sooners have now won their past three games SU, but they’ve also lost four straight ATS. They haven’t shot over 45% from the field since facing No. 17 Iowa State on Feb. 9 and they’ll look to end that streak and shoot well against the Cyclones once again Monday. Iowa State had a brutal week, losing both SU and ATS at home versus Baylor on Wednesday and on the road against Kansas State on Saturday. The Cyclones have had trouble defensively recently, allowing 75.3 PPG over their past three games. These two teams have split wins SU in their past four meetings, but Oklahoma is 3-1 ATS in those contests. The Sooners have not had success in Ames recently, losing three straight games at James H. Hilton Coliseum. They did, however, cover in their most recent appearance there. That game went Under the total, but the previous five games played between these teams in Iowa State went Over. Oklahoma is 13-1 ATS after two straight games with nine or less offensive rebounds over the past two seasons. The Sooners also face an Iowa State team that is 0-7 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite in that time. The Cyclones are, however, 14-2 ATS in home games in March since 1997.

Can Iowa State avoid a third straight loss when the team hosts Oklahoma Monday? For the latest college basketball picks, check out The Platinum Sheet for all the StatFox Experts selections every week throughout the entire 2013-14 season. The experts have been heating up since Feb. 6, combining for a 62% ATS mark (52-32) in college basketball Best Bets. StatFox Brian is a robust 82% ATS (14-3) in Best Bets during this timeframe to put him at 60% ATS (47-32-1) this season. StatFox Gary is a strong 58% ATS (29-21) since Dec. 23 to improve to 59% ATS (47-33) for the season, while StatFox Zach is on a 60% ATS (25-17) Best Bets run since Jan. 1 and has a 56% ATS mark (45-35) this season. StatFox Dave is a whopping 69% ATS (11-5) since Feb. 6, and StatFox Scott is a lofty 57% ATS (28-21-1) in Best Bets since Dec. 23.

The Sooners have been a solid two-way team this season, scoring 72.4 PPG (63rd in NCAA) on 44.6% shooting (113th in NCAA) and allowing just 62.2 PPG (71st in NCAA). Oklahoma’s defense knows how to make opponents uncomfortable, racking up 5.4 BPG (18th in NCAA) and 7.1 SPG (78th in NCAA). G Buddy Hield (17.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.5 SPG) is the Sooners’ most dangerous player. He was on fire against TCU, scoring 21 points (6-for-11 FG, 3-for-6 3PT) with 13 rebounds in 32 minutes of action. Hield can really shoot the ball from behind the arc (38% 3PT) and also plays with a lot of toughness. He had 17 points in 31 minutes in a win over Iowa State on Feb. 9 and will need to get it going once again on Monday. G Isaiah Cousins (12.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG) is Hield’s partner in the backcourt. He is yet another outstanding shooter (45% 3PT) and can be very disruptive on the defensive end. Cousins had 19 points and four assists against the Cyclones in the last meeting between these teams and he’ll need to knock down his jumpers in this one. Fs TaShawn Thomas (11.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.5 BPG) and Ryan Spangler (10.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.2 BPG) are the guys responsible for this team’s ability to protect the rim. Thomas dominated the last time he faced Iowa State, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in 35 minutes of action. The Cyclones had no match for his toughness inside. Spangler also added 14 points and 12 rebounds in 34 minutes that game. The Sooners will feature their two forwards heavily in this one. G Jordan Woodard (9.0 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.4 RPG, 1.6 SPG) must continue to play solid defense and take care of the ball. He is a pest defensively and just needs to make sure he gets the ball to his teammates in the right spots on offense.

The Cyclones are putting up 79.1 PPG (11th in NCAA) on 48.2% shooting (17th in NCAA) thanks in part to 16.9 APG (6th in NCAA). Over the past two games, however, they’re averaging just 69.5 PPG and haven’t shot over 45% from the field in either of them. That type of play offensively won’t be good enough for a team that is allowing 69.4 PPG (265th in NCAA) on the season and 75.3 PPG over its past three games. The Cyclones could not apply any pressure the last time they faced the Sooners, as Oklahoma only had seven turnovers in the game. G Monte Morris (11.0 PPG, 5.4 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.7 SPG) played one of his worst games of the year against Oklahoma, finishing with just six points (3-for-10 FG) and two assists in 34 minutes of action. He is capable of doing a lot more offensively and will need to get himself going early against the Sooners. Morris is coming off of a 15-point performance against Kansas State and should carry some confidence into this one. F Georges Niang (14.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.3 APG) also played terribly against Oklahoma the first time they met, finishing with seven points (3-for-9 FG), six boards and four assists in 31 minutes. Niang was in foul trouble and will need to be more disciplined defensively in this one. He is one of the best playmaking forwards in college basketball and the Cyclones need him to come through in a big way in order to get them out of their recent funk. G Bryce Dejean-Jones (11.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG) had 14 points against the Sooners and was one of the only players who showed up for Iowa State. He did, however, have no points against Kansas State last game and could be feeling down after playing just 12 minutes in the loss. F Jameel McKay (11.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.5 BPG) had 16 points and nine rebounds in 33 minutes against Oklahoma last meeting. He’ll need to come up big in the paint once again in this one. F Dustin Hogue (10.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG) caught fire the last time he faced the Sooners, scoring 19 points in 29 minutes of action. He was hot from three (4-for-5) in that game and will need to knock down some open looks on Monday.