The seventh-ranked Kansas Jayhawks (16-3) will battle the 23^rd-ranked Iowa State Cyclones (15-4) in this appealing Big 12 betting opportunity on Saturday, January 27 at 1:30 PM ET at James H. Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones are slight contenders for success, with a point spread at -5.5 (+100).

The Jayhawks have been 3-2 in their last five games and have solid momentum heading into this game. Their most recent battle was a 74-69 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Kevin McCullar Jr. (20.0 PPG) and Hunter Dickinson (18.8 PPG, 11.1 REB) are both going to be key in this matchup. Dickinson only had 10 points in their last game and will need to stay out of foul trouble if they want to succeed.

The Jayhawks are averaging 79.2 points per game and are shooting 50.8 percent from the field. They are moving the ball exceptionally well to find better scoring opportunities with 20.8 assists each game.

They are holding teams to 67.7 points per game, which shows a good margin of victory when compared to their offense. They are also acquiring 36.6 rebounds, 4.3 blocks, and 7.6 steals a game.

The Cyclones are 4-1 in their last five games and are currently on a two-game win streak. Their most recent win was a 78-67 outing over the Kansas State Wildcats, marking their third game in a row where they scored at least 70 points.

Tamin Lipsey will be a good matchup for the Jayhawks, as he currently leads the Cyclones with both 14.1 points and 5.3 rebounds each game. He is also leading them with 5.6 assists each game, making him the most important component to their success.

The Cyclones are getting 80.5 points per game and shoot 48.4 percent from the field. They are also moving the ball at a great rate to find better scoring opportunities with 17.4 assists each game.

They have shown appealing defense consistently, as they have held teams around 61.1 points per game and have a great margin for error. They also put up 35.6 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and 11.3 steals a game.

MyBookie has the odds for this matchup, with the Iowa State Cyclones as 5.5-point favorites. According to market insights, they have a 76.7 percent chance at success.

The Jayhawks have had a handful of close encounters this season and only a few teams to knock them off. All eyes will be on Dickinson to see if he can help lead them to victory, where he should have the advantage assuming he stays out of foul trouble.