
A college basketball season has an ebb and flow with peaks and valleys. Timing those is what separates winning bettors from losing ones.
Too often, recreational bettors react to what they last saw, assuming it will repeat. The most respected ones know how to anticipate a contrarian performance.
We might have that Tuesday when Iowa State hosts Central Florida as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 156.5 points.
The Cyclones are the nation’s No. 9 team but have lost back-to-back games after starting the season 16-0. Meanwhile, the Knights are also 3-2 in Big 12 play and coming off a tough, seven-point home loss to top-ranked Arizona.

I see this as a classic bounce-back opportunity for Iowa State. The program has been dominant at Hilton Coliseum over the years and it is a tough trip from Florida.
The Cyclones should approach this game with optimal intensity and focus, looking to snap their two-game skid.
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Iowa State is on a 2-7 run against the spread (ATS) so there is a chance the market is valuing them too high, but I will roll the dice with a big number. The situational spot favors the Cyclones too much.
I have an 89-77-2 ATS record in this Post sports section.
My next play is Iowa State -13.5 points against UCF.
The Play: Iowa State -13.5 points (+100, bet365 Sportsbook)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He’s also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.


