Tonight's game between #16 Iowa State (15-3, 3-3) and #6 Kansas (15-4, 6-0) represents a phenomenon unique to NFL football and college basketball -- an event forlorn couples would simply call "getting back together," what the sequel makers of "Avatar" are calling "Avatar 2," and what George Foreman's second born son was called by his father, "George 2" -- the rematch. Rarely does it happen in college football; it doesn't matter when it happens in professional baseball and football; and it's probably the most exciting when it happens in the NFL. Only about a third of the way through college basketball season, Kansas-Iowa State will mark the first in-conference rematch of the season, if my semi-thorough research is to be trusted.

But not the first out of conference rematch. The first two teams to play each other twice this season were #22 Memphis (15-4, 5-2) and #8 Oklahoma State (16-4, 4-3). After scheduling a specific game on Nov. 19 and then scheduling themselves into the same invitational (in which they both advanced to the final), they played and then re-played each other within a two week time period. The Cowboys dominated the first game, 101-80 (Smart's 39 point game) and lost by five in the next one.

The Jayhawks beat the Cyclones on Jan. 13, 77-70, back when their rankings were nearly reversed and Kansas was the underdog and the away team. A tie score at halftime ended in a seven-point win, aided by Kansas' superior rebounding (19 boards for Andrew Wiggins) and big games from spot-20 point scorer Naadir Thorpe (20 points; averaging 9 ppg but has scored over 20 three times) and Joel Embiid (16 points, 5 blocks).

Iowa State has been less than stellar after their 14 game win streak to start the year. They had lost three in a row before most recently beating then #22 Kansas State (14-6, 4-3), 81-75.

Under the current spread (Kansas, -7.5), Iowa State would have covered in their first meeting. But this one is at Allen Fieldhouse against an even hotter Jayhawks team. Still, Kansas hasn't been blowing teams out this year and I like the seriousness with which the Hawkeyes handle their basketball business, as evidenced by a players-only meeting earlier in the season. That pride, and Vegas'/AP's penchant to overrate the Jayhawks because of their flashy freshmen, should be enough for the cover.

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Regular season: 10-7 (won 8 of 9)

Picking Schedule:

Butler @ Creighton: L (picked Butler, +10.5)

UConn @ Memphis: L (picked Memphis, -7.5)

Depaul @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -17.5)

Pittsburg @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -5.5)

Creighton @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Baylor @ Kansas: W (picked Baylor, + 10.5)

Indiana @ Michigan State: L (picked Michigan State, -12)

Iowa @ Michigan: L (picked Iowa, + 1.5)

Colorado @ Arizona: W (picked Colorado, + 14.5)

Illinois @ Ohio State: W (picked Illinois, + 11)

Michigan @ Michigan State: W (picked Michigan, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Marquette: W (picked Villanova, -3)

Utah @ Arizona: W (picked Utah, + 15)

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State: W (picked Oklahoma, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Georgetown: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Michigan State @ Iowa: W (picked Michigan State, + 5)

St. John's @ Creighton: W (picked St. John's, + 12)