The Iowa State Cyclones (24-6, 13-4 Big 12) will travel to Manhattan, Kansas, to take on the Kansas State Wildcats (17-13, 7-10 Big 12). This is the second matchup of the season, with the Cyclones winning by 11 in late January. The Cyclones boast one of the most balanced teams in the Big 12, so this is slated to be a lopsided matchup. Iowa State enters the game on a four-game winning streak after losing to top-ranked Houston.
Can the Wildcats play spoiler at home, or will the Cyclones continue their dominance of the conference?
Iowa State vs. Kansas State Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | MoneyLine |
| Iowa State | -3
-110 |
O 134.0
-110 |
-162 |
| Kansas State | +3
-110 |
U 134.0
-110 |
+136 |
| **Odds Courtesy of DraftKings** | |||
Iowa State vs. Kansas State Game Details
- Fixture: Iowa State @ Kansas
- Date and Time: March 9, 2024 @ 2:00 pm EST
- Location: Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, KS
Apex Tale of the Tape
|
Iowa State |
vs. |
Kansas State |
| 24-6 | Record | 17-13 |
| 76.3 | Points Per Game | 72.4 |
| 46.4 | FG% | 43.6 |
| 34.9 | 3PT% | 31.9 |
| 31.7 | Rebounds Per Game | 34.3 |
| 62.0 | Points Allowed Per Game | 70.6 |
| 40.5 | Defensive FG% | 40.6 |
| 32.3 | Defensive 3PT% | 31.4 |
| 71.6 | Defensive FT% | 69.9 |
| 29.7 | Defensive Rebounds Per Game | 32.0 |
| 4-1 | Last 5 W-L | 2-3 |
Key Stats
Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones have been leaning on their defense all year. They are fifth in the country in points allowed. On offense, Tamin Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert, and Curtis Jones all average over 10 points a game. They are ranked in the top 40 in the nation in assists, which means they share the ball well. Iowa State is 20-9 against the spread this season, thanks to their balance.
In all likelihood, the Cyclones are locked into second place in the Big 12 regular season standings. What happens on Saturday will do little to sway conference tournament standings. Still, getting a win sets the tone going into the postseason.
Kansas State Wildcats
Guard Tylor Perry is the key for the Wildcats. He leads the team in points (15.5) and assists (4.5). When the Wildcats are underdogs by at least 4.5, they are 4-3. This spread sits at 3 right now on DraftKings. Their greatest strength is their ability to clean the glass, as they rank 69th in the nation in total rebounding per game.
Kansas State has kept it close for the most part even in their losses. While the most recent loss to Kansas was a blowout, they kept it close against West Virginia, Cincinnati, BYU, and Texas. They lost those games by an average of less than six points per game.
Game Prediction
The Cyclones are rolling right now. They have won four straight, and their only loss in the last five games was an eight-point loss at Houston, which is nothing to be ashamed of. The Wildcats, on the other hand, have struggled all year as they have a losing record in conference play. However, they have been competitive but just cannot close the deal.
The spread is interesting in this one. While many sportsbooks I have seen have this at 4.5 or higher, DraftKings had it at 3 at the time this article was published. Based on the season’s trends, I love Iowa State in that situation. If it climbs, I like it a lot less. I see a score similar to their last matchup, with 77-68 feeling like the sweet spot.
Final Pick
Iowa State Cyclones -3 and Over 134.0
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Matt has been following sports since he was a kid. While football is his primary focus, Matt can talk about any sport anytime. He is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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