Sixth-seeded LSU enters the NCAA Tournament without its head coach Will Wade, who was fired, as the Tigers face No. 11 Iowa State in first-round Midwest Region action on Friday. LSU is favored on the NCAAB odds.

How to Bet LSU vs. Iowa State NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

• When: Friday, 7:20 PM ET
• Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
• TV: TBS
• Radio: Tunein.com

Why Bet on LSU?

Over the weekend, LSU (22-11) fired embattled men’s basketball coach Will Wade after receiving a notice of allegations that details significant misconduct. This will mark the second time that Wade has been unable to coach a Tigers team he led to the NCAA tournament. In 2019, LSU won the SEC regular-season championship, but Wade was suspended for the conference and NCAA tournaments after reports revealed that a federal wiretap captured him discussing a “strong-ass offer” for a recruit. Assistant Kevin Nickelberry will serve as the interim coach.

Wade’s final game at LSU was a loss 79-67 to Arkansas in the SEC Tournament in which he received a technical foul for arguing with officials in the first half. Tari Eason led LSU with 15 points, while Darius Days had his eighth double double of the season, the 24th of his career, with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Brandon Murray had 13 points, four assists and no turnovers in the game.

LSU was out rebounded by Arkansas, 42-28. The Hogs shot over 60 percent in the second half (17-of-28) and finished the game at 24-of-57 (42.1%). LSU shot just 35 percent, making 18-of-51 shots.

In Tari Eason (16.9 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 2.0 SPG, 35.5% from 3), LSU has one of college basketball’s most complete, and underrated, players. The team has made 51% of its shots inside the 3-point line with Eason on the floor this season. He’s also one of four Tigers averaging double digits this season.

LSU has now advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2019, 2021 and 2022 (the 2020 tournament canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic), the first time LSU has gone to at least three-consecutive tournaments since the 10-year run from 1984-93. LSU last played a game in Milwaukee in the 2012 portion of the 2012-13 season against Marquette.

“Obviously, this time a couple of days ago, I didn’t think I would be sitting here, but in life, in the world, there’s a lot of things going on. There’s a lot of adversity in the world, so this is a tough situation for everybody, but right now I’m charged with the responsibility of getting these young men focused for the task at hand, which is the NCAA Tournament. I feel confident that this staff can lead these young men—even in these challenging times—to where they want to be,” Nickelberry said.

LSU last played a game in Milwaukee in the 2012 portion of the 2012-13 season against Marquette. The winner of the first-round game will face either No. 3-seeded Wisconsin or No. 14-seeded Colgate on Sunday.

Why Bet on Iowa State?

Iowa State (20-12) was lucky to get an at-large bid with a 7-11 regular-season Big 12 record. The Cyclones closed the season on a three-game skid, including a 31-point loss to Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament.

It was a struggle across the board for Iowa State, who shot just 31.3 percent (15-of-48) and committed 20 turnovers. Meanwhile, Texas Tech shot 50 percent from the field (28-of-56), having a 40-to-24 edge on the boards. In defeat, the ISU effort was led by Big 12 Freshman of the Year Tyrese Hunter, who had nine points and five rebounds, while Izaiah Brockington contributed seven points.

Hunter, a 6-0 point guard, is just the sixth Cyclone rookie to take home freshman of the year honors and the first since Curtis Stinson in 2004. He was also named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. Hunter averaged 10.8 points and 5.0 assists, breaking the ISU freshman record with 155 assists while also posting 59 steals.

Izaiah Brockington, a 6-4 senior guard, was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Newcomer Team in addition to being named the league’s top newcomer. Brockington, who finished the regular season third in the Big 12 in scoring (17.6) and rebounding (7.2) is the 10th Cyclone to be named conference newcomer of the year and the first since Deonte Burton in 2016.

ISU is +18 in the win column this season compared to last, the best turnaround in school and Big 12 history and the best-ever by a team led by a first-year head coach. Iowa State will be making its 21st NCAA Tournament appearance and eighth since the 2012 tournament, one of 14 schools with that many appearances in that time.

ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger is the eighth head coach in school history to lead the Cyclones to the tournament and just the third first-year head coach. He is one of four first-year head coaches nationally to lead his team there after taking over team with a losing record.

Game Trends

• Cyclones are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.
• Cyclones are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
• Cyclones are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
• Tigers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
• Tigers are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games as a favorite.
• Tigers are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Expert Prediction

• LSU 68, Iowa State 63

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