Iowa State Recap

The Iowa State Cyclones booked their spot in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament after ending up with an 82-55 win over Lipscomb in the opening round in their last game.

Cyclones Looking To Make Back-To-Back Sweet 16 Appearances

Curtis Jones leads the Cyclones in scoring with 17.1 PPG along with 4.3 RPG and 2.3 APG. Keshon Gilbert has 13.4 PPG with 3.5 RPG and a team-high 4.1 APG to lead the Cyclones in assists, but is expected to be out for the rest of the year with an injury. Milan Momcilovic has 11.4 PPG with 3.2 RPG while Joshua Jefferson has 13 PPG with a team-high 7.4 RPG to lead Iowa State on the glass up to this point in the year. Tamin Lipsey has 10.8 PPG with 3.2 APG and 2.1 SPG to cap off the scoring in double figures for Iowa State so far this season. Dishon Jackson has 8.6 PPG with 5.1 RPG as well on the year. As a team, Iowa State is averaging 80.4 PPG on 48% shooting from the field, 35.8% from three and 75.7% from the foul line this season.

Why the Iowa State Cyclones will win

• Iowa State has won each of its last seven games against non-Conference opponents.
• Ole Miss has lost 24 of its last 27 games against AP-ranked opponents.

Ole Miss Recap

The Ole Miss Rebels come into the Round of 32 after picking up a win over North Carolina by a final score of 71-64 in their opening NCAA Tournament matchup.

Rebels Looking For Second All-Time Sweet 16 Appearance, First Since 2001

Sean Pedulla leads the Rebels in scoring, assists and steals with 15 PPG along with 3.6 RPG and 3.6 APG and 1.8 SPG while Jaylen Murray has 10.5 PPG with 3.5 APG. Matthew Murrell has 10.5 PPG and Dre Davis has 10.5 PPG with 4.8 RPG. Jaemyn Brakefield has 10.9 PPG with 4.3 RPG. Malik Dia has 10.5 PPG with a team-high 5.7 RPG to lead the Rebels on the glass and to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Ole Miss so far this season. As a team, Ole Miss is averaging 77.2 PPG on 44.2% shooting from the field, 34.1% from three and 73.8% from the foul line this season.

Why the Ole Miss Rebels will win

• Ole Miss has won each of its last 15 night games against non-Conference opponents.
• Iowa State has lost each of its last three games against the Southeastern Conference.

Total Points Facts

• Fifteen of Iowa State’s last 16 night games at a neutral venue have produced a total of 142 or fewer points.
• Seven of Ole Miss’ last eight games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 152+ points.

Iowa State vs Ole Miss Prediction

I’m on Iowa State in this game. I just think the Cyclones are the better team by a fair margin, and Ole Miss was really lucky to escape from UNC in that first round matchup. Had UNC not dug themselves into a big hole early, we could be talking about a completely different second round matchup. The Cyclones may be banged up without Keshon Gilbert, but the Cyclones showed there’s more to this team than one body, and I think that the Cyclones get the win and cover here. Give me Iowa State.

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Iowa State Recap

The Iowa State Cyclones come into the NCAA tournament on behalf of the Big 12, finishing the year with an overall record of 24-9 including a 13-7 mark in Big 12 conference play. As the 5-seed in the Big 12 tournament, Iowa State took down Cincinnati before falling to BYU in the quarterfinals.

Cyclones Make Four Straight NCAA Tournament Appearances

Curtis Jones leads the Cyclones in scoring with 17.1 PPG along with 4.3 RPG and 2.3 APG while Keshon Gilbert has 13.4 PPG with 3.5 RPG and a team-high 4.1 APG to lead the Cyclones in assists, but is expected to be out for the rest of the year with an injury. Milan Momcilovic has 11.4 PPG with 3.2 RPG while Joshua Jefferson has 13 PPG with a team-high 7.4 RPG to lead Iowa State on the glass up to this point in the year. Tamin Lipsey has 10.8 PPG with 3.2 APG and 2.1 SPG to cap off the scoring in double figures for Iowa State so far this season. Dishon Jackson has 8.6 PPG with 5.1 RPG as well on the year. As a team, Iowa State is averaging 80.4 PPG on 48% shooting from the field, 35.8% from three and 75.7% from the foul line this season.

Why the Lipscomb Bisons will win

• Lipscomb has won each of its last 10 day games.

Lipscomb Recap

The Lipscomb Bisons come into the NCAA tournament as the ASUN champion, finishing the year with an overall record of 25-9 including a 14-4 mark in ASUN conference play. As the regular season champion and the 1-seed in the ASUN tournament, Lipscomb knocked down Central Arkansas, Queens and North Alabama on the way to the ASUN championship.

Bisons Making First NCAA Tournament Appearance Since 2018

Jacob Ognacevic leads the Bison in scoring with 20.1 PPG and in rebounding with 8.1 RPG while Will Pruitt has 13.2 PPG with 5.9 RPG and 2.6 APG. Gyasi Powell has 11.6 PPG with 3.6 RPG and Dylan Faulkner has 10.5 PPG with 5.3 RPG. Joe Anderson has 12.5 PPG with 3.5 RPG and a team-high 3.9 APG to lead the Bison in the assist department and to round out the group of double-digit scorers for Lipscomb up to this point in the year. As a team, Lipscomb is averaging 79.3 PPG on 47.3% shooting from the field, 35.9% from three and 79.4% from the foul line this season.

Why the Iowa State Cyclones will win

• Iowa State has won each of its last six games against non-Conference opponents.
• Lipscomb has lost each of its last five games against AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Seven of Iowa State’s last eight NCAA Tournament games have produced a total of 141 or fewer points.
• Each of Lipscomb’s last five games against non-Conference opponents have produced a total of 142 or fewer points.

Iowa State vs Lipscomb Prediction

I’m on Lipscomb here with the points. I think Iowa State still wins, but I think this is still a solid and well-coached Lipscomb team that can do some damage here, especially with a key cog in Iowa State’s lineup in Gilbert out for the tournament. When this Iowa State team was at full strength, they were borderline unstoppable. But when you took one piece out, it was almost like the Cyclones would overcompensate. Lipscomb is an efficient team from an efficient ASUN conference, and I think at worst they can keep it close here. Give me the Bisons and the points.

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BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The Cougars had a (brief) spotty run going in January but aside from that they’ve been a consistent team in the record column overall. BYU opened on a 10-2 run over their first dozen, with losses to Ole Miss and Providence. Losses to Houston, Texas Tech, TCU and Utah came in the next five games (with a lone win over Oklahoma State), then wins over Colorado, Cincinnati, Baylor and UCF. BYU would lose to Arizona and Cincinnati in the next pair, but they’ve since taken out West Virginia, Kansas State, Kansas, Arizona, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and Utah in succession. That gives BYU a 23-8 overall record in their 31 games so far this season.

In their matchup with Utah last weekend, the Cougars went into halftime with a four-point edge and closed on a 51-44 run for the win 85-74. Tops in scoring was Dawson Baker with 15 points in 16 minutes of work off the bench.

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

Over on Cyclones’ side, they were looking great in mid-January. Iowa State has hit some bumpy roads in the win column since then, though. The Cyclones kicked things off on a stellar run that lasted until January 18, winning 15 of their first 16 outings. The November 25 loss to Auburn was the only defeat in that time. Iowa State hit a 2-4 run in the next six, taking out UCF and Arizona State with losses otherwise versus West Virginia, Arizona, Kansas State and Kansas. Wins over TCU, UCF, Cincinnati and Colorado came in the next four outings. Iowa State hit a 2-3 run in their next five games with wins over Arizona and Kansas State. Those losses came versus Houston, Oklahoma State and BYU otherwise. That gave the Cyclones a 23-8 overall record in 31 games of regular-season play..

In their matchup against Cincinnati on Wednesday, the Cyclones were able to keep things rolling with a dominant victory. Iowa State hit a 33-24 run in the first half, then took a 43-32 advantage from there on the way to a 76-56 win in the end. Tops in scoring was Joshua Jefferson with 19 points, eight boards, five assists and three steals. Tamin Lipsey added 16 points with three assists, two rebounds and two steals, while Milan Momcilovic had 13 points with six boards and two assists. Dishon Jackson managed a double-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds, one block and one assist in 25 minutes of action during the victory.

Why the BYU Cougars will win

• BYU has won each of its last eight games.
• Iowa State has lost three of its last four games against AP-ranked opponents.
• BYU has won the first half in each of its last seven games against the Big 12 Conference.

Why the Iowa State Cyclones will win

• Iowa State has won 11 of its last 12 games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• BYU has lost each of its last four day games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Iowa State has won the first half in each of its last five games against the Big 12 Conference at neutral venues.

Total Points Facts

• Seven of Iowa State’s last eight day games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 141 or fewer points.
• Each of BYU’s last four games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 148+ points.

Matchup/League Facts

• BYU ranks 7th among Division 1 teams for effective field goal percentage this season (57.5%).
• BYU ranks 10th among Division 1 teams for three-point field goals made per game this season (10.6).
• Iowa State ranks 9th among Division 1 teams for steals per game this season (9.6).
• Iowa State ranks 10th among Division 1 teams for opponent turnovers per game this season (15.7).

BYU vs Iowa State Prediction

I’ll lean toward Iowa State I suppose. The Cyclones rolled past a middling Kansas State team pretty well over the weekend, and they were able to power out the win over Cincinnati with some gusto on Wednesday. In that one the Cyclones shot a healthy 53.7 percent from the field and 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from 3-point range while holding the Bearcats to just 32.8 percent overall on the other side. Iowa State also notched a nice 41-23 rebounding edge, but made some mistakes along the way with 17 turnovers for 14 Bearcats points.

These teams last saw each other quite recently, with BYU taking a double-overtime road victory 88-85 on March 4. Iowa State didn’t play very well in that one, shooting just 39.1 percent from the field with a 52-24 rebounding deficit. The saving grace was the 34 points off a whopping 29 BYU turnovers. The Cyclones need a much better effort across the board in this tournament rematch, but coming off a couple of convincing wins I think Iowa State is ready for it. Should be a great matchup.

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When these two teams faced off on February 15th, Iowa State secured the 81-70 victory. 

What a Second Half for Cincinnati 

Cincinnati faced off against Oklahoma State in the first game of the Big 12 tournament, and the 49er’s points scored in the second half were enough to help them put up a 19-point victory. Cincinnati shot 47.8 percent from the field but only 26.1 percent from behind the three-point line. It makes it even more impressive how easy they made it look, with the lack of shooting from deep. Day Day Thomas had a strong game, putting up 21 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Four different players ended up putting up 13 points. Dillon Mitchell also put up 18 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. 

The Bearcats are averaging 70.5 points, while their defense is giving up 65.3 points per game. While the team’s offense has been inconsistent this season, it’s been the defense that they have leaned on most of the season. Jizzle James has been the top player, averaging 12.9 points while shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 28.9 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Iowa State Has Big Dreams

Iowa State has some big dreams this season, and they are coming off another strong win. Iowa State went on the road and gave up only 57 points against Kansas State, and they ended up winning by 166 points. Iowa State’s offense was solid, but even more impressive was the defense. They allowed Kansas State to shoot only 37.7 percent from the field and only 9.5 percent from deep. Kansas State hit only two of their 21 shots from behind the arc. Curtis Jones had a strong game, putting up 24 points, rebounds, and five assists. 

Iowa State sits with a 23-8 record overall. The Cyclones are averaging 80.1 points, while their defense is giving up 67.5 points per game. The defense is often talked about for this team, but this offense is elite and can’t be overlooked. Curtis Jones has been the top player for Iowa State, averaging 17 points while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Cincinnati vs Iowa State Prediction

There are a couple of factors that are going to play into this game, but the two that are most important will be all the differences, rest, and talent. Cincinnati had their game on Tuesday, and although it was a comfortable win, it will still be the second game in as many days. Iowa State has already proven they know how exactly to run up the score against Cincinnati, and they will do it again here. Curtis Jones is the top player, but this is such a balanced offensive attack. The Bearcats aren’t going to be keeping up, and Iowa State will cruise. Back Iowa State against the spread. 

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Kansas State Wildcats Betting Preview

The Kansas State Wildcats are 15-15 (9-10) this year after they defeated Cincinnati by a score of 54-49 in their last game. Kansas State trailed 25-22 at halftime, but they held Cincinnati to just 24 points in the second half in the win. The Wildcats shot 40.7% from the field, 16.7% on three pointers, and 70% on free throws in the game. David N’Guessan led Kansas State with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Dug McDaniel added 13 points and four assists in the win. 

Prior to that game, the Wildcats defeated Colorado by a score of 65-56, but did lose to UCF by a score of 80-76 before that. Kansas State has lost four of their last six games and they are currently tied for eighth in the Big 12 standings with a 9-10 record. Kansas State has scored 72 points per game and they have allowed 69.2 points against per game, while also averaging 34 rebounds and 16 assists per game this season. David N’Guessan is averaging 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, while Brendan Hausen is averaging 11.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game this year. Kansas State is shooting 44.4% from the field, 69.1% on free throws, and 33.8% on three pointers this season. 

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

The Iowa State Cyclones are 22-8 (12-7) this season after they lost to BYU in double overtime by a score of 88-85 in their last game. Iowa State trailed 33-24 at halftime, but they scored 44 points in the second half, before losing in the second overtime. The Cyclones shot 39.1% from the field, 28.6% on three pointers, and 87.1% on free throws in the game. Joshua Jefferson led Iowa State with 19 points and four rebounds, while Milan Momcilovic added 18 points and three rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that loss, the Cyclones defeated Arizona by a score of 84-67, but did lose to Oklahoma State by a score of 74-68 before that. Iowa State has lost three of their last four games and they are currently fifth in the Big 12 standings with a 12-7 record. Iowa State has scored 80.4 points per game and they have allowed 67.9 points against per game, while also averaging 35.7 rebounds and 15.0 assists per game this season. Curtis Jones is averaging 16.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, while Keshon Gilbert is averaging 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game this year. Iowa State is shooting 47.5% from the field, 75.5% on free throws, and 35.1% on three pointers this season. 

Why Iowa State will beat Kansas State

• Iowa State has won 10 of its last 11 games when playing with a rest advantage.
• Kansas State has lost five of its last six day games at Fred Bramlage Coliseum against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Iowa State has won the first half in 30 of its last 40 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Iowa State’s last four games against non-AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 142+ points.
• Five of Kansas State’s last six games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 141+ points.

Kansas State vs Iowa State Prediction 

Iowa State comes into this contest looking to turn things around, but they have lost three of their last four games and will be on the road for this game. The Cyclones are shooting 47.5% from the field this year, but they are just 1-4 in their last five road games. Kansas State is below .500 in conference play, but they have won two games in a row and held their opponents to just 56 and 49 points in those two games. Kansas State beat Iowa State by a score of 80-61 on the road in their first meeting, so they will be full of confidence here, but I still have to side with the Cyclones in this game. Kansas State’s offense is inconsistent right now and I just don’t think they can hang around with this high scoring Iowa State team. 

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Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

The Iowa State Cyclones are 22-7 (12-6) this year after they defeated Arizona by a score of 84-67 in their last game. Iowa State led 43-30 at halftime and added 41 points in the second half in the win. The Cyclones shot 50% from the field, 52.4% on three-pointers, and 82.6% on free throws in the game. Milan Momcilovic led Iowa State with 17 points and three assists, while Tamin Lipsey added 15 points and eight assists in the win. 

Prior to that victory, the Cyclones lost to Oklahoma State by a score of 74-68 and Houston by a score of 68-59. Iowa State has won five of their last seven games and they are currently fourth in the Big 12 standings with a 12-6 record. Iowa State has scored 80.2 points per game and they have allowed 67.2 points per game, while also averaging 36.1 rebounds and 15.1 assists per game this season. Curtis Jones is averaging 16.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, while Keshon Gilbert is averaging 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game this year. Iowa State is shooting 47.8% from the field, 75% on free throws, and 35.4% on three-pointers this season. 

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The BYU Cougars are 21-8 (12-6) this season after they defeated West Virginia by a score of 77-56 in their last game. BYU led 25-19 at halftime and added 52 points in the second half to pull away in the win. The Cougars shot 52.7% from the field, 33.3% on three-pointers, and 63.6% on free throws in the game. Fousseyni Traore led BYU with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Egor Demin added 15 points and six rebounds in the loss. 

Prior to that game, the Cougars defeated Arizona State by a score of 91-81 and Arizona by a score of 96-95. BYU has won six games in a row and they are currently tied for fourth in the Big 12 standings with Iowa State with a 12-6 record. BYU has scored 81 points per game and they have allowed 69.6 points per game, while also averaging 37.1 rebounds and 17.3 assists per game this season. Richie Saunders is averaging 15.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, while Egor Demin is averaging 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game this year. BYU is shooting 48.8% from the field, 68.1% on free throws, and 37.8% on three-pointers this season. 

Why Iowa State will beat BYU

• Iowa State has won each of its last 18 night games at James H. Hilton Coliseum.
• BYU has lost eight of its last nine games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Iowa State has won the first half in each of its last nine night games at James H. Hilton Coliseum.

Total Points Facts

• Each of BYU’s last five games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents has produced a total of 149 or fewer points.
• Thirty-nine of Iowa State’s last 45 games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 150 or fewer points.

Iowa State vs BYU Prediction 

Both of these teams come into this matchup ranked in the top 25 and tied in the Big 12 standings with a 12-6 record, so this is a big battle for each side. BYU has won six games in a row and they have scored at least 80 points in four of their last five. The Cougars are shooting nearly 49% from the field this year, but their defense has been inconsistent. Iowa State has lost two of their last three games, but I trust their defense much more. The Cyclones have allowed 68 points or fewer in three of their last four games and they have been very good at home this year. This will be a good measuring stick for BYU to see where they are at heading into the postseason, but I don’t think their defense is going to hold up in this game. Take Iowa State at home here. 

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Before we dive into the Iowa State Cyclones vs. Arizona Wildcats game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this evening’s Arizona Wildcats vs. Iowa State Cyclones matchup.

Draftkings NCAA College Basketball Showdown Picks

Captain-Tamin Lipsey, Guard, Iowa State Cyclones $8,000

Junior guard Tamin Lipsey has been the floor general that the Iowa State Cyclones have needed to win games this season. With that said, how has Lipsey performed from a statistical perspective? Let’s review Lipsey’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 28 games that guard Tamin Lipsey has played for the Iowa State Cyclones in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Lipsey is averaging 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.3 blocks a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 28 games that Tamin Lipsey has played for the Iowa State Cyclones this season, Lipsey has compiled a 46.7% field goal percentage a 32.7% three-point percentage and a 74.1% free throw percentage

It is noteworthy that these two teams met earlier this season. Who prevailed? How did Lipsey perform in the contest? In the Arizona Wildcats 86-75 win over the Iowa State Cyclones in January, Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey played rather well. More specifically, Lipsey amassed 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in the Wildcats victory over the Cyclones.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Arizona Wildcats win over the Iowa State Cyclones just noted, Tamin Lipsey accumulated a robust 29.5 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game Draftkings slate.

In my view, Tamin Lipsey is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this evening’s NCAA regular season game. For that specific reason, I am rolling with Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Joshua Jefferson, Forward, Iowa State Cyclones $10,600

In addition to guard Tamin Lipsey, forward Joshua Jefferson has been a key contributor to the Iowa State Cyclones lineup this season.

In the 28 games that Joshua Jefferson has played for the Iowa State Cyclones in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Joshua Jefferson is averaging an impressive 32.2 Draftkings points a game.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Caleb Love, Guard (Arizona Wildcats) $10,200: Tobe Awaka, Forward (Arizona Wildcats) $8,200: KJ Lewis, Guard (Arizona Wildcats) $7,200.

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Arizona Wildcats Betting Preview

The Wildcats have had a couple of spotty runs in the record column so far this year, but overall they’re not doing too badly. Arizona kicked things off on a shaky 4-5 run though, taking losses to Wisconsin, Duke, Oklahoma, West Virginia and UCLA in that time. The Wildcats would only lose one of their next 14 games though (versus Texas Tech), taking out Samford, Central Michigan, TCU, Cincinnati, West Virginia, UCF, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Iowa State, Arizona State, BYU and Texas Tech in that time. The next four games were an ugly 1-3 run, though. Arizona beat only Baylor in that time, losing otherwise versus Kansas State, Houston and BYU. That would give the Wildcats an 18-9 record across their first 27 games this year.

In their matchup versus Utah on Wednesday, the Wildcats were up 46-32 by halftime and cruised to the win in the end 83-66. Leading the team in scoring was Caleb Love with 23 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Tobe Awaka doubled up on 12 points with 10 rebounds in the victory as well.

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

Over on the Cyclones’ side, they were looking great in late January but February was a completely different story. Iowa State hit a 17-2 run in their first 19 games, taking out MS Valley State, Kansas City, IUPUI, Dayton, Colorado, Marquette, Jackson State, Iowa, Omaha, Morgan State, Colorado, Baylor, Utah, Texas Tech, Kansas, UCF and Arizona State during that run. Since then however it’s been a spotty 4-5 stretch for the Cyclones. The wins in that time were over TCU, UCF, Cincinnati and Colorado. The losses came courtesy of Arizona, Kansas State, Kansas, Houston and Oklahoma State. In total that gives Iowa State a 21-7 overall record across their first 28 games of the season.

In their latest outing on Tuesday versus Oklahoma State, the Cyclones were blitzed 40-26 in the first half. Iowa State recovered on a 42-34 second half run but fell short of the comeback 74-68. Leading the team in the losing effort was Joshua Jefferson with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Nate Heise added 13 points with six boards and one steal, while Curtis Jones led the bench scoring on 11 points with four rebounds and two assists. Milan Momcilovic chipped in 10 points with two rebounds and two assists as well.

Why the Iowa State Cyclones will win

• Iowa State has won each of its last 17 night games at James H. Hilton Coliseum.
• Iowa State has won the first half in each of its last eight night games at James H. Hilton Coliseum.

Why the Arizona Wildcats will win

• Arizona has won 19 of its last 21 games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• Arizona has won the first half in each of its last six games against AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Iowa State’s last 10 night games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 151 or fewer points.
• Four of Arizona’s last five games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 149 or fewer points.

Iowa State vs Arizona Prediction

I’m going to take a stab on Iowa State. The Cyclones are sitting on consecutive losses (with fewer than 69 points scored in each) and they really need a good showing in this one. In Tuesday’s matchup against Oklahoma State, Iowa State shot a tepid 41.4 percent from the field and 12-of-20 (60 percent) from the line. The rebounding was solid (a 38-34 advantage) but the Cyclones ruined it with 18 turnovers for 24 Cowboys points.

These teams last saw each other back on January 27 in an 86-75 overtime road loss for the Cyclones. In that one Iowa State didn’t shoot terribly (43.1 percent) and they were comparable on the boards (a 40-39 deficit) but really ran into some ball control issues along the way. Iowa State coughed up 18 turnovers for 22 Wildcats points during a pretty sloppy overall matchup on both sides (33 total turnovers). Arizona’s 18-of-22 (81.8 percent) from the line helped push the Wildcats over the top as well. This will be the first of two home games against tricky opponents (BYU is coming on Tuesday) for the Cyclones, so they’ve got to get it going and finish the season on a strong run.

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Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

The Cyclones have really only had one spotty run so far this year. Otherwise, they’ve been rattling off wins at a very nice rate. Following a loss to Auburn in their fourth game of the season, Iowa State posted victories versus Dayton, Colorado, Marquette, Jackson State, Iowa, Omaha, Morgan State, Colorado, Baylor, Utah, Texas Tech, and Kansas in the next dozen outings. A 2-4 stretch came next with wins over UCF and Arizona State among losses to West Virginia, Arizona, Kansas State, and Kansas. The next four were victories over TCU, UCF, Cincinnati, and Colorado though, giving the Cyclones a 21-5 record through 26 games.

In their Saturday matchup with Houston, Iowa State went into the locker room trailing significantly 34-22. The Cyclones got slightly better from there on a 37-34 run but still lost handily 68-59. Milan Momcilovic led the team with 16 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 35 minutes. Nate Heise put up 12 points with two rebounds in the losing effort, and Tamin Lipsey had 11 points with two assists and two steals in 34 minutes of work out there.

Oklahoma State Cowboys Betting Preview

Over on the Oklahoma State side, they started out pretty well but they’ve been on a rough run since late December. The Cowboys took out Green Bay, St. Thomas MN, Southern Illinois, Miami, Tulsa, Seton Hall, Tarleton State, and Oral Roberts during an 8-3 stretch across their first 11 outings. Oklahoma State would go a rough 5-10 over the next 15 games though, beating only Kansas State, Colorado, Utah, Arizona State, and UCF. The losses otherwise were versus Houston, West Virginia, Utah, BYU, Arizona, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Houston, TCU, and Texas Tech in succession, giving the Cowboys a .500 record through 26 games at 13-13.

Matched up against Kansas this past weekend, the Cowboys were blitzed 52-23 in the first half. Things got better on a 44-41 deficit from there but Oklahoma State still lost significantly 96-64. Bryce Thompson was the team’s leading player with 21 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Brandon Newman came off the bench for 11 points with two rebounds and two steals, while Marchelus Avery had 10 points with three rebounds, three steals and two assists in 18 minutes of bench work. Leading among the rest of the starters was Abou Ousmane with seven points, two steals, one rebound, and one assist in 19 minutes.

Why the Oklahoma State Cowboys will win

• The home team has won eight of Oklahoma State’s last nine games.
• Iowa State has lost three of its last four road games.
• The home team has won the first half in eight of Oklahoma State’s last nine games.

Why the Iowa State Cyclones will win

• Oklahoma State has lost each of its last 20 night games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Iowa State has won 19 of its last 20 night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Oklahoma State has lost the first half in each of its last 12 night games against AP-ranked opponents.

Oklahoma State vs Iowa State Prediction

I’ll lean toward Iowa State. The Cyclones need a good bounce-back effort here following a pretty listless loss to a talented Houston team, though. In that one, Iowa State shot just 39.1 percent from the field with a 29-22 rebounding deficit and 12 turnovers for 16 Cougars points. The Cyclones gave up 53.2 percent shooting on the other side overall and 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from 3-point range. The loss snaps a four-game win streak and the 59 points mark Iowa State’s lowest total since scoring just 52 in a road loss to Kansas on February 3.

As for Oklahoma State, they had a tough road matchup versus Kansas over the weekend themselves. The Cowboys shot just 36.7 percent from the field versus the Jayhawks’ 52.1 percent and had a 48-28 rebounding deficit. The 17 turnovers for 27 Kansas points didn’t help matters either, though it was a pretty sloppy game overall for ball control. Oklahoma State is currently sitting on a 1-3 stretch with fewer than 65 points in consecutive losses. Iowa State has a good opportunity to assert themselves at home here and power out a cover.

Read the rest of "Oklahoma State vs Iowa State Prediction 2/25/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

This is the first meeting between the two teams this year. Last year in the Big 12 tournament, Iowa State secured a 69-41 victory. 

Iowa State Back on Track

All Iowa State needed was a few games against the bottom dwellers of the Big 12 to get the season back on the right track. Iowa State has won four games in a row, and the offense has the confidence. Two games ago against Cincinnati, they won 81-70, and in the last game against Colorado, they picked up a 79-65 victory. The Cyclones shot 51.1 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from behind the three-point line. They also went to the free throw line 31 times, and this is a team that has done a good job of getting to the line this season. 

Iowa State is still playing the classic trap defense, and creating turnovers is a big key to its success. The Cyclones had nine steals against Colorado. Iowa State has had 22 wins overall this year. Its defensive rating of 95 is the 15th best in college basketball. Curtis Jones has been the top player overall, averaging 17.2 points while shooting 43.1 percent from the field. 

Why Iowa State Will Cover Against Houston

• Iowa State has won each of its last four games against the Big 12 Conference.
• Houston has lost 10 of its last 13 games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.

Can Houston Take More Control?

Houston has gone 14-1 during conference play, and a win here would almost be the final nail in the coffin for the Big 12 conference. Houston has won five games in a row, and they have the confidence. In the last game against Arizona State on the road, they picked up the 80-65 victory. At halftime, they were up 47-31 points. When you think of Houston, you think of the defense, but this might be their best offensive team of the last few years in terms of pure scorers. 

Houston has only four losses this season, and the offense is averaging 75.4 points per game. The defense can shut down even the best offenses, and they are giving up only 57.6 points per game. They are the top-ranked defense in all of college basketball. There are four different players that are averaging at least 10 points per game. LJ Cryer is averaging 14.5 points, and the most impressive stat for him is he’s actually shooting better from deep than from the field. He is shooting 40.8 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Why Houston Will Beat Iowa State

• Houston has won 18 of its last 19 games.
• Iowa State has lost the first half in each of its last four road day games against Conference opponents.

Houston vs Iowa State Prediction

Houston and Iowa State are both elite offensive teams, but this game will be all about the defense for both squads. Houston’s defense is giving up only 57.6 points per game, and I also believe they will be trying to keep this game slow. Iowa State has done a good job creating turnovers, and Houston won’t have their best offensive games of the season. Iowa State is going to find a way to slow down LJ Cryer, and this game is going to stay lower-scoring. This feels like a game that finishes 54-50. Back the under to cash here.

Read the rest of "Houston vs Iowa State Prediction 2/22/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

The Iowa State Cyclones are 20-5 (10-4) this season after they defeated Cincinnati by a score of 81-70 in their last game. Iowa State was tied at 39 at halftime, but they scored 42 points in the second half to pull away with the win. The Cyclones shot 49% from the field, 38.9% on three-pointers, and 86.7% on free throws in the game. Curtis Jones led Iowa State with 22 points and six rebounds, while Joshua Jefferson added 13 points and seven rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Cyclones defeated UCF by a score of 77-65 and TCU by a score of 82-52. Iowa State has won three games in a row and they are currently fourth in the Big 12 standings with a 10-4 record. Iowa State has scored 81.4 points per game and they have allowed 67.0 points per game, while also averaging 37.0 rebounds and 14.9 assists per game this season. Curtis Jones is averaging 17.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, while Keshon Gilbert is averaging 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game this year. Iowa State is shooting 48.2% from the field, 75.2% on free throws, and 34.3% on three-pointers this season. 

Colorado Buffaloes Betting Preview

The Colorado Buffaloes are 10-15 (1-13) this year after they defeated UCF by a score of 76-63 in their last game. Colorado led 38-36 at halftime and held UCF to just 27 points in the second half in the win. The Buffaloes shot 42.4% from the field, 31.8% on three-pointers, and 82.6% on free throws in the game. Andrej Jakimovski led Colorado with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Julian Hammond III added 11 points and five rebounds in the win. 

Prior to that game, the Buffaloes lost to Kansas by a score of 71-59 and Houston by a score of 69-59. Colorado has lost 13 of their last 14 games and they are currently last in the Big 12 standings with a 1-13 record. Colorado has scored 70.4 points per game and they have allowed 71.6 points per game, while also averaging 35.0 rebounds and 14.6 assists per game this season. Julian Hammond III is averaging 13.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, while Andrej Jakimovski is averaging 9.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game this year. Colorado is shooting 44.8% from the field, 75.9% on free throws, and 33.1% on three-pointers this season. 

Why Iowa State will beat Colorado

• Iowa State has won each of its last 16 night games at James H. Hilton Coliseum.
• Colorado has lost 14 of its last 15 games against the Big 12 Conference.
• Iowa State has won the first half in each of its last 12 night games at James H. Hilton Coliseum against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Colorado’s last six games against Conference opponents has produced a total of 139 or fewer points.
• Each of Iowa State’s last six night games against non-AP-ranked opponents has produced a total of 141+ points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Iowa State ranks 11th among Division 1 teams for point differential per game this season (+14.4).
• Iowa State ranks 13th among Division 1 teams for steals per game this season (9.4).
• Colorado ranks 359th among Division 1 teams for turnover percentage this season (19.1%).
• Colorado ranks 355th among Division 1 teams for turnovers per game this season (14.9).

Iowa State vs Colorado Prediction 

Colorado comes into this matchup after finally picking up their first conference win in their last game, but they will be back on the road here. The Buffaloes are shooting 44.8% from the field this season and they have scored 59 points or fewer in four of their last five games. Iowa State has won three games in a row and they are shooting 48.2% from the field this year. The Cyclones have scored 77+ points in three straight games and they have beaten Colorado by scores of 99-71 and 79-69 so far this year. Iowa State is back on track after losing three games in a row and I think they will completely dominate Colorado in this game. 

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Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Preview

The Bearcats had a very rough run going back in January. Aside from that however, Cincinnati has been quite the consistent team in the record column and they’re having a good year. During their 10-1 opening run, the Bearcats fell to only Villanova, taking out Arkansas Pine Bluff, Morehead State, Nicholls State, Northern Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Alabama State, Howard, Xavier, Dayton and Grambling otherwise during that time. Cincinnati hit the skids on a 2-8 run from there, beating only Colorado and Arizona State. Otherwise it was losses to Kansas State, Arizona, Baylor, Kansas, Texas Tech, BYU, Utah and West Virginia during that time. The Bearcats have gotten back on track with wins over their last three games, though. Those victories have come in succession versus UCF, BYU and Utah. In total that gives the Bearcats a 15-9 overall record through their first 24 games of the year so far.

In the Utah matchup on Tuesday, the Bearcats hit a 42-36 opening run in the first half. Cincinnati closed with a 43-39 stretch from there in an eventual win 85-75 in the end. The Bearcats’ leading scorer was Jizzle James with his 25 points, six assists and two rebounds. Aziz Bandaogo managed to double up with 10 points, 10 rebounds and a pair of blocks. Josh Reed led the bench scorers with 13 points and four rebounds, while Simas Lukosius chipped in with 11 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 27 minutes of work on the floor.

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

Over on the Iowa State side, they suffered a three-game losing streak that stretched into the early part of this month. Other than that however, the Cyclones have been pretty dominant overall. Iowa State’s lone loss during a 15-1 start was versus Auburn on November 25. Otherwise it was wins over MS Valley State, Kansas City, IUPUI, Dayton, Colorado, Marquette, Jackson State, Iowa, Omaha, Morgan State, Colorado, Baylor, Utah, Texas Tech and Kansas in succession during that time. A spotty 2-4 run came next with a pair of wins over UCF and Arizona State among losses to West Virginia, Arizona, Kansas State and Kansas. Since then Iowa State has gotten back on track with consecutive wins over TCU and UCF, giving the Cyclones a 19-5 overall record so far through the first 24 games of the season.

Matched up against UCF on Tuesday in their latest outing, the Cyclones held a modest two-point advantage after the first half. Iowa State hit a 45-35 run in the second half however, eventually powering out a 77-65 win in the end. Tops in scoring was Keshon Gilbert with 15 points, seven boards, four assists and one steal. Joshua Jefferson added 13 points with eight boards and four assists alongside one steal and one block. Curtis Jones paced the team off the bench, providing 10 points with six rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes of work.

Why the Iowa State Cyclones will win

• Cincinnati has lost each of its last 17 games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Iowa State has won 30 of its last 31 games at James H. Hilton Coliseum.
• Iowa State has won the first half in 26 of its last 27 day games at James H. Hilton Coliseum.

Why the Cincinnati Bearcats will win

• The road team has won each of the last three games between Cincinnati and Iowa State.
• Cincinnati has won the first half in each of its last four games against AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Cincinnati’s last seven games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 129 or fewer points.
• Fifteen of Iowa State’s last 18 games against non-AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 137+ points.

Iowa State vs Cincinnati Prediction

I’ll stick with Iowa State. The Cyclones started modestly in their latest road win over UCF but ended up looking pretty good in the end. Iowa State hit 45.8 percent from the field in that one alongside a 41-32 rebounding advantage. The 11 turnovers for 10 UCF points were just about the only blemish to complain about. Following a pair of losses with just 113 combined points (to Kansas State and Kansas), the Cyclones have now scored 159 combined points in a pair of wins during their last two outings.

As for Cincinnati, they’ve scored 84 or more points in three straight games (all wins). The Bearcats will have their hands full in a tough road matchup Saturday however, and I don’t think they’ll quite get there.

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Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

The Iowa State Cyclones beat TCU, lost to Kansas, and they play Cincinnati, Colorado, and Houston next. The Iowa State Cyclones are averaging 81.7 points on 48.2 percent shooting and allowing 67 points on 41.3 percent shooting. Curtis Jones is averaging 17.7 points and 2.2 assists, while Keshon Gilbert is averaging 14.7 points and 3.6 rebounds. Joshua Jefferson is the third double-digit scorer and Milan Momcilovic is grabbing 3.4 rebounds. The Iowa State Cyclones are shooting 34.7 percent from beyond the arc and 74.5 percent from the free throw line. The Iowa State Cyclones are allowing 33.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 33.9 rebounds per game.

UCF Knights Betting Preview

The UCF Knights lost to Baylor and Cincinnati, and they play Colorado, Oklahoma State, and Utah next. The UCF Knights are averaging 79.7 points on 42.2 percent shooting and allowing 79.9 points on 45.5 percent shooting. Keyshawn Hall is averaging 18.3 points and 2.5 assists, while Darius Johnson is averaging 14.9 points and 3.3 rebounds. Jordan Ivy-Curry is the third double-digit scorer and Moustapha Thiam is grabbing 5.3 rebounds. The UCF Knights are shooting 34.6 percent from beyond the arc and 78.2 percent from the free throw line. The UCF Knights are allowing 34.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.4 rebounds per game.

UCF vs Iowa State Injury Report

Iowa State doesn’t have a player listed on its injury report. UCF will continue to Jaylin Sellers and Cameron Simpson.

UCF vs Iowa State Prediction

The UCF Knights will be up for this game at home with a top-25 team coming to town, and they’re 10-4 SU at home. UCF has lost four straight games and the defense is getting worse. UCF has allowed 90-plus points in three of its last four games. An Iowa State offense that’s top-30 in points and field goal percentage should be drooling about this matchup. If the UCF Knights aren’t capable of getting stops, this game will get away from them rather quickly. I’ll lay the points with Iowa State as the Cyclones win their fifth road game of the season.

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Iowa State is Suddenly Struggling 

A couple of weeks ago, Iowa State looked like a real contender for the National Championship, and they still might be, but heading into this game, they are really struggling. Iowa State has lost three straight games and none of them have been all that close. Two games ago against Kansas State, they lost 80-6,1 and in the last game against Kansas, they lost 69-52. Iowa State shot only 30.6 percent from the field in the last game and even worse from deep hitting only 14.3 percent of the shots. 

Overall, Iowa State sits with a 17-5 record overall and they have gone 13-9 against the spread. Iowa State is averaging 81.6 points while their defense is giving up 67.6 points per game. The offense is ranked 29th while the defense is ranked 69th. The last few games haven’t been that impressive, though, and they are going to need to bounce back in a way here. Guard Curtis Jones has been the top player for the team, averaging 17.4 points while shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Can TCU Pull it Out?

This hasn’t been the best season for TCU, but they seem to be figuring it out, and they have won two straight games. Two games ago against Colorado they gave up only 57 points on the way to the victory. In the last game against West Virginia, they ended up winning 65-60. Vasean Allette put up 22 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. Noah Reynolds had a strong game, putting up 20 points and 20 rebounds. 

TCU comes into this game with a 12-10 record overall, and they have gone 8-14 against the spread. The over has hit in only six of the games. TCU is averaging 68.5 points, while their defense is giving up 67.1 points per game. The offense is ranked 309th in the league while the defense is ranked 58th. Noah Reynolds is averaging 12.7 points while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Why TCU Will Cover the Spread against Iowa State

TCU has won four of its last five day games against the Big 12 Conference.

Iowa State has lost each of its last three games against the Big 12 Conference.

TCU has won the first half in three of its last four day games against Iowa State at James H. Hilton Coliseum.

Iowa State vs TCU Prediction

Give me TCU here. I don’t really trust either of these teams right now, but TCU has shown some signs of life, and they are going to find success here. Iowa State’s defense has been a major issue heading into this game, and they are going to struggle again. Noah Reynolds is going to have another big game here, and that will be enough to keep it close. Will TCU win the game? Probably not. I do believe they will score enough, though, to keep it close, and they will cover the spread. 

Read the rest of "Iowa State vs TCU Prediction 2/8/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Kansas Jayhawks vs. Iowa State Cyclones game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this evening’s Kansas Jayhawks vs. Iowa State Cyclones matchup.

Captain-Hunter Dickinson, Forward, Kansas Jayhawks $11,000

Forward Hunter Dickinson has certainly been a standout performer for the Kansas Jayhawks this season. Having stated that, how has Dickinson performed from a statistical perspective? Let’s review the senior forward’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 21 games that forward Hunter Dickinson has played for the Kansas Jayhawks in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Dickinson is averaging 16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 21 games that Hunter Dickinson has played for the Kansas Jayhawks this season, Dickinson has amassed a field goal percentage of 52.6%, and a three-point percentage of 22.2% and a free throw percentage of 79.7%.

More recntly, in the Kansas Jayhawks 91-87 win over the UCF Knights five days ago, Kansas forward Hunter Dickinson played exceptionally well. Let me be more specific. Dickinson amassed 24 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and one steal in the Kansas Jayhawks victory over the UCF Knights.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Kansas Jayhawks win over the Knights, Hunter Dickinson tallied a robust 38.8 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game Draftkings slate.

In my opinion, Kansas Jayhawks forward Hunter Dickinson is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this evening’s NCAA regular season game. With that said, I am backing Hunter Dickinson at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

KJ Adams, Forward, Kansas Jayhawks $6,000

In addition to forward Hunter Dickinson, forward KJ Adams has been a key contributor to the Kansas Jayhawks overall team achievements this season.

In the 18 games that guard KJ Adams has played for the Kansas Jayhawks in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Adams is averaging 8.3 points, 4.7 assists, 2. assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 steals a game.

In my opinion, Kansas Jayhawks forward KJ Adams presents the best fantasy value of any player on this one game DFS slate.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Joshua Jefferson, Forward (Baylor Bears) $11,800: Tamin Lipsey, Guard (Baylor Bears) $7,200.

Read the rest of "Draftkings NCAA Basketball Picks: Kansas vs. Iowa State 2/3/25" at Sports Chat Place

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

The Cyclones have been one of the more consistent teams in the country so far this year, with relatively few losses piling up in the record column. Iowa State opened with wins over Mississippi Valley State, Kansas City, and IUPUI, then took their first defeat of the season courtesy of Auburn. Wins versus Dayton, Colorado, Marquette, Jackson State, Iowa, Omaha, Morgan State, Colorado, Baylor, Utah, Texas Tech, and Kansas came in the next month and a half, though. Over the next four games Iowa State hit a shaky 2-2 run with losses to West Virginia and Arizona sandwiched around wins versus UCF and Arizona State. The result through the first 20 games of the season was a 17-3 overall record for Iowa State.

In their Saturday showdown with Kansas State, the Cyclones got off to a 37-35 deficit in the first half. Iowa State slumped even further from there in a rough showing 43-26 and lost 80-61 in something of a shocker outcome. Leading the team in scoring was Tamin Lipsey with 20 points, three assists, and one rebound. Curtis Jones added 14 points with six rebounds, and Joshua Jefferson had 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 27 minutes.

Kansas Jayhawks Betting Preview

Over on the Kansas side, they’ve had a couple of spotty runs in the books so far this year, but overall they’re doing quite well record-wise also. The Jayhawks beat Howard, North Carolina, Michigan State, Oakland, UNC Wilmington, Duke, and Furman out of the gate, then fell to Creighton and Missouri in successive games. A 5-2 run came next with losses to West Virginia and Iowa State amid wins over NC State, Brown, UCF, Arizona State and Cincinnati came next, then a 3-1 stretch over the next four. The lone loss in that time was versus Houston. Otherwise, it was wins over Kansas State, TCU, and UCF for a 15-5 overall run through 20 games.

Matched up against Baylor on Saturday, the Jayhawks were looking good initially on a 40-21 advantage by the break. Kansas was blitzed 60-30 in the second half however, and ended up taking a road loss 81-70 in the end. Hunter Dickinson led the team on his 20 points with five rebounds and one steal. Dajuan Harris put up 12 points with eight assists, two steals, and two rebounds, while Rylan Griffen chipped in with 11 points, two rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes of work off the bench.

Why the Kansas Jayhawks will win

• Kansas has won 65 of its last 67 night games at Allen Fieldhouse.
• Iowa State has lost each of its last six games at Allen Fieldhouse.
• Kansas has won the first half in each of its last six night games at Allen Fieldhouse against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Iowa State Cyclones will win

• Iowa State has won nine of its last 10 night games.
• Kansas has lost three of its last four games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Iowa State has won the first half in seven of its last eight night games against the Big 12 Conference.

Kansas vs Iowa State Prediction

I’ll lean toward Kansas. With both teams recording losses on Saturday however, some of the luster has worn off this matchup. On Saturday the Jayhawks had Baylor dead to rights by the second half but eventually got outplayed. Kansas was outmuscled on the boards 40-27 and coughed up 14 turnovers for 24 Bears points. Iowa State had turnover troubles in their loss as well (18 for 18 K-State points) and lost the rebounding battle 39-29. Both teams could use a bounce-back showing on Monday.

The last time these teams met up was back on January 15 in a 74-57 home victory for Iowa State. Both teams shot exactly 40.7 percent from the field (24-of-59), however, the Cyclones did better from the 3-point range (61.5 percent on 8-of-13) and the line (18-of-25 for 72 percent). Iowa State’s 43-33 rebounding edge helped quite a bit as well. It was a sloppy game overall, with Kansas contributing 17 of the 30 total turnovers for 23 Cyclones points. If Kansas can get their act together and control the mistakes in this home rematch, I think the Jayhawks can eke into a cover. Should be an interesting matchup.

Read the rest of "Kansas vs Iowa State Prediction 2/3/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Kansas State Recap

The Kansas State Wildcats come into this game looking to build on an 85-57 win over Oklahoma State last time out to improve to 9-11 on the year. After this game, Kansas State will head back on the road for a game against Arizona State.

Wildcats Win Back-To-Back Games

David N’Guessan leads the Wildcats in scoring with 12.3 PPG and 7 RPG while Brendan Hausen has 12 PPG. Coleman Hawkins has 10.9 PPG with 7.1 RPG and 4.4 APG to lead the Wildcats in rebounding and assists and to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Kansas State while Dug McDaniel has 9.8 PPG with 2.5 RPG and 4.2 APG up to this point in the year. Max Jones also has 9.5 PPG with 3.8 RPG this season. As a team, Kansas State is averaging 73.3 PPG on 45.5% shooting from the field, 34.6% from three and 68.1% from the foul line this season.

Why the Kansas State Wildcats will win

• Kansas State has won five of its last six day games against Iowa State.

Iowa State Recap

The Iowa State Cyclones come into this game looking to bounce back from an 86-75 OT loss to Arizona last time out to fall to 17-3 on the year. After this game, Iowa State will head on the road to take on Kansas.

Cyclones Looking To Rebound

Curtis Jones leads the Cyclones in scoring with 18.1 PPG along with 4.6 RPG and 2.4 APG while Keshon Gilbert has 15.6 PPG with 3.7 RPG and a team-high 4.6 APG to lead the Cyclones in assists. Milan Momcilovic has 10.3 PPG with 3.5 RPG while Joshua Jefferson has 12.9 PPG with a team-high 8.1 RPG to lead Iowa State on the glass up to this point in the year. Tamin Lipsey has 10.4 PPG with 3 APG and 2.3 SPG to cap off the scoring in double figures for Iowa State so far this season. Dishon Jackson has 9.2 PPG with 5 RPG as well on the year. As a team, Iowa State is averaging 84.2 PPG on 49.2% shooting from the field, 34.7% from three and 75.1% from the foul line this season.

Why the Iowa State Cyclones will win

• Iowa State has won each of its last 29 games at James H. Hilton Coliseum.
• Kansas State has lost each of its last nine Saturday road games.

Total Points Facts

• Eleven of the last 12 day games between Kansas State and Iowa State have produced a total of 144 or fewer points.
• Five of Kansas State’s last six games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 144 or fewer points.

Iowa State vs Kansas State Prediction

I’m on Iowa State in this one. I get the allure of Kansas State with the Wildcats covering in each of their last 5 games, but the thing is that more often than not, the Wildcats are still failing to cover their games on the road and the Wildcats haven’t had a lot of success away from Manhattan. The Wildcats are 0-6 SU in true road games this season and have taken blowout L’s against teams like St. John’s, Wichita State, Oklahoma State and Kansas and I’d put Iowa State above all of those teams. Especially off of a loss, at home, where Iowa State has wins by 19, 23, 17 and 25 in conference, I think that the Cyclones bounce back in a big way here. Give me Iowa State.

Read the rest of "Iowa State vs Kansas State Prediction 2/1/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Iowa State Cyclones vs. Arizona Wildcats game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this evening’s Iowa State Cyclones vs. Arizona Wildcats matchup.

Draftkings NCAA College Basketball Showdown Picks

Captain-Tamin Lipsey, Guard, Iowa State Cyclones $7,600

Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey has certainly been a solid offensive performer for the Cyclones this season. Having stated that, how has Lipsey performed from a statistical perspective in 2024? Let’s review Lipsey’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 19 games that guard Tamin Lipsey has played for the Iowa State Cyclones in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Lipsey is averaging 9.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 steals and one block a game.

Looking closer ay the data just presented, in the 19 games that Tamin Lipsey has played for the Cyclones this season, Lipsey has compiled a field goal percentage of 47.8%, a three-point percentage of 34.4% and a free throw percentage of 72.5%.

Last week, in the Iowa State Cyclones dominating 108-83 win over the University of Central Florida Knights, Tamin Lipsey played exceptionally well. More specifically, Lipsey amassed nine points, five rebounds, one assist, one block and three steals in the Cyclones victory over the UCF Knights.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Iowa State Cyclones win over the UCF Knights, Tamin Lipsey accumulated a robust 24.8 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game Draftkings slate.

In my view, Tamin Lipsey is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this evening’s NCAA regular season game. With that said, I am rolling with Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Joshua Jefferson, Forward, Iowa State Cyclones $12,000

In addition to guard Tamin Lipsey, forward Joshua Jefferson has been a key contributor to the Iowa State Cyclones lineup this season.

In the 19 games that Joshua Jefferson has played for the Iowa State Cyclones in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Joshua Jefferson is averaging an impressive 32.4 Draftkings points a game.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Caleb Love, Guard (Arizona Wildcats) $9,200: KJ Lewis, Guard (Arizona Wildcats) $6,800.

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Arizona Wildcats Betting Preview

The Arizona Wildcats are 13-6 (7-1) this season after they defeated Colorado by a score of 78-63 in their last game. Arizona led 33-31 at halftime and scored 45 points in the second half to pull away for the win. The Wildcats shot 46.9% from the field, 33.3% on three-pointers, and 81.8% on free throws in the game. Anthony Dell’Orso led Arizona with 20 points and one steal, while KJ Lewis added 12 points and six assists in the win. 

Prior to that game, the Wildcats defeated Oklahoma State by a score of 92-78 but did beat Texas Tech by a score of 70-54 before that. Arizona has won nine of their last ten games and they are currently tied for second in the Big 12 standings. Arizona has scored 82.7 points per game and they have allowed 68.9 points per game, while also averaging 39.8 rebounds and 16.9 assists per game this season. Caleb Love is averaging 15.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, while Jaden Bradley is averaging 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game this year. Arizona is shooting 48.2% from the field, 75.2% on free throws, and 32.4% on three-pointers this season.

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

The Iowa State Cyclones are 17-2 (7-1) this year after they defeated Arizona State by a score of 76-61 in their last game. Iowa State trailed 40-33 at halftime, but they outscored ASU 43-21 in the second half for the double-digit win. The Cyclones shot 45.8% from the field, 42.1% on three-pointers, and 80% on free throws in the game. Curtis Jones led Iowa State with 33 points and seven rebounds, while Joshua Jefferson added 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win. 

Prior to that game, the Cyclones defeated UCF by a score of 108-83 but did lose to West Virginia by a score of 64-57 before that. Iowa State has won 14 of their last 15 games and they are also tied for second in the Big 12 standings with Arizona. Iowa State has scored 84.6 points per game and they have allowed 65.9 points per game, while also averaging 37.4 rebounds and 15.8 assists per game this season. Curtis Jones is averaging 18.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, while Keshon Gilbert is averaging 15.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game this year. Iowa State is shooting 49.5% from the field, 75.4% on free throws, and 35% on three-pointers this season. 

Why Arizona will beat Iowa State

• Arizona has won 42 of its last 44 night games at McKale Memorial Center.
• Arizona has won the first half in each of its last seven night games.

Total Points Facts

• Thirteen of Iowa State’s last 14 night games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 148 or fewer points.
• Each of Arizona’s last six games against AP-ranked opponents has produced a total of 151 or fewer points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Arizona ranks 20th among Division 1 teams for point differential per game this season (+13.8).
• Arizona ranks 22nd among Division 1 teams for rebound percentage this season (55.0%).
• Iowa State ranks T4th among Division 1 teams for point differential per game this season (+18.7).
• Iowa State ranks 5th among Division 1 teams for net rating this season (+26.6).

Arizona vs Iowa State Prediction 

Both of these teams come into this matchup tied for second in the Big 12 standings with a 7-1 conference record, but Arizona will be at home. The Wildcats are shooting 48.2% from the field this year and they have scored at least 78 points in four of their last five games. Iowa State is shooting nearly 50% from the field and they are scoring 84.6 points per game on the season. The Cyclones did pick up their lone conference loss on the road against West Virginia and they struggled in the first half on the road against Arizona State, so give me Arizona to get the win at home here. 

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Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Preview

The Arizona State Sun Devils are 11-7 (2-5) this year after they defeated West Virginia by a score of 65-57 in their last game. Arizona State led 24-23 at halftime and added 41 points in the second half in the win. The Sun Devils shot 48.1% from the field, 29.4% on three pointers, and 58.8% on free throws in the game. Basheer Jihad led Arizona State with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Jayden Quaintance added 15 points and 12 rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that victory, the Sun Devils lost to Cincinnati by a score of 67-60 and UCF by a score of 95-89. Arizona State has lost four of their last five games and they are currently near the bottom of the Big 12 standings. Arizona State has scored 74.2 points per game and they have allowed 71.5 points against per game, while also averaging 36.9 rebounds and 13.4 assists per game this season. BJ Freeman is averaging 13.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists per game, while Basheer Jihad is averaging 12.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game this year. Arizona State is shooting 44.5% from the field, 70.7% on free throws, and 36.3% on three pointers this season. 

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

The Iowa State Cyclones are 16-2 (6-1) this season after they defeated UCF by a score of 108-83 in their last game. Iowa State led 54-36 at halftime and added 54 more points in the second half in the blowout win. The Cyclones shot 56.3% from the field, 40.9% on three pointers, and 76% on free throws in the game. Joshua Jefferson led Iowa State with 30 points and seven rebounds, while Keshon Gilbert added 21 points and eight assists in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Cyclones lost to West Virginia by a score of 64-57, but did beat Kansas by a score of 74-57 before that. Iowa State has won 13 of their last 14 games and they are second in the Big 12 standings behind Houston. Iowa State has scored 85.1 points per game and they have allowed 66.2 points against per game, while also averaging 37.7 rebounds and 16.2 assists per game this season. Curtis Jones is averaging 17.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, while Keshon Gilbert is averaging 15.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game this year. Iowa State is shooting 49.7% from the field, 75.1% on free throws, and 34.7% on three pointers this season. 

Why Iowa State will beat Arizona State

• Iowa State has won 30 of its last 32 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Arizona State has lost each of its last six games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Iowa State has won the first half in 27 of its last 32 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Arizona State vs Iowa State Prediction 

Arizona State comes into this matchup with a 2-5 conference record, but they are coming off of a nice win over West Virginia and they will be at home for this game. The Sun Devils are shooting 44.5% from the field, but they have scored 65 points or fewer in regulation in four of their last five games. Iowa State has won six of their seven conference games so far this year, but they did lose to that West Virginia team by a score of 64-57 two games ago. The Cyclones are shooting nearly 50% from the field and they are scoring 85.1 points per game. We have seen Iowa State struggle in their last two road games, but I think they are going to roll to a win over this ASU team. Take the Cyclones on the road. 

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