Vegas Play of the Day: Iowa State at Kansas State

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, March 1, 2014 | 2 a.m.

The combined $30,000 starting bankroll of our three Play of the Day contestants has dwindled to less than $27,000.

Overall, it wasn’t a positive opening two months for the daily feature that uses odds from the South Point sports book. But there’s no better time to turn it around than March, the biggest sports betting month of the year.

Kansas State minus-1 vs. Iowa State: $440 to win $400

Kansas State has taken pride in turning Bramlage Coliseum into one of the nation’s toughest venues over the last few years. Now the Wildcats have a chance to validate how tough the building can be on opponents by setting a school record.

Kansas State seeks its 15th straight victory at Bramlage Saturday against Iowa State. And it’s hard to argue reasons why the Wildcats won’t be able to find it.

Similar to how Kansas State is a much better team at home, Iowa State is far weaker on the road. The Cyclones have failed to cover in five of their last six away games.

And none of those opponents play defense as hellacious as the Wildcats, the Big 12’s best team in the category. The Cyclones are vulnerable when they aren’t hitting outside shots, and the Wildcats won’t make it easy on the perimeter.

Iowa State got a taste of that in its first game against Kansas State. Although the Cyclones exploded for 46 points in the first half in the teams’ January showdown in Ames, the Wildcats held them to a well below-average 35 in the second half to mount a comeback.

Kansas State ultimately lost, 81-75, but covered the 9.5-point spread behind 20 points from freshman phenom Marcus Foster, who will continue to be a tough matchup for Iowa State.

Standings: Bern (13-7, $11,390), Keefer (6-9, $8,497), Brewer (5-10-3, $6,910)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.