Baylor vs. Iowa State odds, line: Proven model reveals college basketball picks for Jan. 1, 2022, Big 12 matchup

The defending national champion and top-ranked Baylor Bears will face their stiffest test to date when they take on the eighth-ranked Iowa State Cyclones in a Big 12 Conference opener on New Year's Day. Both teams enter the game 12-0. Tipoff from Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, is set for 2 p.m. ET. Baylor is favored by 7.5 points at Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points is set at 133 (see up-to-date odds for every game this week on our college basketball odds page).

Before making any Baylor vs. Iowa State picks, you NEED to check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of almost $2,200 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen HUGE returns.

The model knows the Bears like to start fast and are 86-5 when leading at halftime over the past five seasons, including a 24-0 mark last year. Baylor also boasts seven players averaging 8.5 points or better, led by sophomore guard L.J. Cryer, who averages 13.6 points, 2.1 assists, 1.8 rebounds and one steal per game. He did not play in Baylor's win over Northwestern State because of a foot injury, but is expected back on Saturday. Cryer appeared in 20 games off the bench as a freshman, and has scored 136 points in 10 games, doubling last season's points total. This season, Cryer has reached 20 points or more four times and has scored 13 points or more in six games.

The model also knows the Cyclones are led by Penn State transfer guard Izaiah Brockington. The senior is averaging 16.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.5 assists per game, and is 83 points from reaching 1,000 career points. He scored 29 points against Iowa, making 11 of 14 field goals, including his first nine attempts. He finished with a double-double, adding 10 rebounds. He had a season-high 30 points against Xavier, making 12 of 19 field goals, including four of six 3-pointers.

Now, it has set its sights on Baylor vs. Iowa State. It is leaning Over on the total and it also says one side of the spread hits in 70 percent of simulations! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any college basketball picks.

Who wins Baylor vs. Iowa State? And which side of the spread hits in 70 percent of simulations? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Baylor vs. Iowa State spread you should be all over Saturday, all from the model on a roll on college basketball picks!