Arguably one of the best matchups in conference tournaments is coming up soon, as the Big 12 Championship presented by Phillips 66 showcases the seventh-ranked Iowa State Cyclones (26-7) and top-ranked Houston Cougars (30-3) on Saturday, March 16^th, at 6:00 PM ET. Bettors can see the action at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri and find the market showing the Cougars having a -5.5 point spread (-110).

The Cyclones are currently on a two-game win streak and have won four out of their last five games. They have some positive momentum on their side, with a recent 76-62 win over the Baylor Bears.

Keshon Gilbert (13.7 PPG) led the Cyclones with 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in their triumph over the Bears. Another similar performance for this matchup will be needed if they want to knock off the best team in the country.

Offense has not been a problem for the Cyclones this season, as they average 75.8 points and make 46.2 percent of their shots a game. In their last two wins, they have hovered around that point total along with their defensive stats.

Looking at their defense, they rival the Cougars efficiency in allowing their opponents to put up 61.9 points a game. Based on the last two meetings against the Cougars, this will be close again.

The Cougars have won their last 11 games and are the top team in the nation for a reason. Their last win was a 82-59 showing over the Texas Tech Red Raiders, with a huge 50 point second half.

L.J. Cryer (15.6 PPG) led them with 20 points over the Red Raiders and will be key here too. They cannot afford stagnant offense, despite their defense being premier.

They have put up 74.0 points a game and have shot 43.9 percent from the field. This is not the most appealing offense, but they shine on the other end of the floor.

Their defense has held teams consistently to 56.6 points a game. This has been proven against some of the best teams in the conference, especially a 76-46 rout over the Kansas Jayhawks a few games back.

MyBookie has the Houston Cougars as 5.5-point favorites, which is a modest amount given the scoring margin they have been winning by. Market insights show the Cougars have a 75.7 percent chance at success.

Both teams have won once in their two meetings this season, with the Cougars winning the previous encounter 73-65 in late February. With some of the best defense in the country and an appealing win streak, the Cougars have what it takes to succeed.