The Iowa State Cyclones (22-6) travel to face off against the UCF Knights (15-12) on Saturday, March 2nd. This game will be played at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando and televised on ESPN+. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Tip-off is set for 4:00 ET.
Iowa State Cyclones vs UCF Knights
The Iowa State Cyclones Are Coming Off A Win
At 22-6, Iowa State has been dominant at home, going 17-1 and winning their last 13 games there. On the road, they are just 5-5, including a 2-1 mark in their last three games.
For the season, the Cyclones have been favored in 20 of their 28 games, going 18-2 in those contests. Overall, they have won two straight games, including a 58-45 victory over Oklahoma.
When looking at Iowa State’s overall ATS record this season, they have gone 18-8-2. On the road, their ATS mark is 5-4-1 and vs. the spread as the favorite, the Cyclones are 13-6-1. In their last 3 road games, Iowa State has an ATS record of 2-0-1 and over their last 10 games as the favorite, they are 6-3-1.
On the season, the over/under record in Iowa State games is 15-13, and today’s over/under line of 132.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games this year (138.3). Over their last three games, Iowa State games have averaged 124 points compared to their season average of 139.5 points per game. So far this year, 19 of their games have finished with more points than today’s over/under line of 132.5.
The UCF Knights Are Coming Off A Win
UCF will look to continue their strong play at home when they take on Iowa State. On the season, UCF has gone 12-5 at home, compared to 3-7 on the road. Their average scoring margin at home is +12.6 points per game.
So far, UCF has been the underdog in 12 games, going 4-8 in those contests. They have won their last two games, and their record in the Big 12 is 6-9.
UCF has been a solid bet at home this season, going 10-6-1 vs. the spread. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, the Knights have a strong ATS mark of 7-2-1. Their overall ATS record for the year is 15-11-1.
So far this season, the over/under record for UCF games is 14-12-1. Today’s over/under line of 132.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games this year (138.9). In their last three games, the over/under record is 1-1-1 and the average scoring total in those games is 142 points.
Iowa State Offense Breakdown
Against Oklahoma, the Iowa State had a tough time putting up points compared to their season average of 77.2 points per game. They scored 58 points and posted a field goal percentage of 33.3% in the game. Leading the team in scoring is Keshon Gilbert, who is averaging 13.9 heading into today’s matchup. Additionally, Tamin Lipsey also maintains a PPG average of 12.7 heading into game.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keshon Gilbert (G) | 13.9 | 4.5 | 4.2 |
| Tamin Lipsey (G) | 12.7 | 4.7 | 5.2 |
| Milan Momcilovic (F) | 11.5 | 3.2 | 1.2 |
UCF Offense Breakdown
In their previous game, the Knights’ offense finished with 77 points, which is right in line with their current average of 72.2 points per contest. Currently leading the team in scoring is Jaylin Sellers who comes into today’s matchup averaging 16.3. Darius Johnson also heads into the game with a PPG average of 14.3.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylin Sellers (G) | 16.3 | 3.8 | 1.1 |
| Darius Johnson (G) | 14.3 | 3.0 | 3.9 |
| Marchelus Avery (F) | 8.4 | 4.1 | 0.8 |
Iowa State Team Defense
So far this season, the Iowa State defense has been performing well, ranking 9th in the country at 62.3 points allowed per contest. Iowa State will look once again to perform well on defense, holding Oklahoma to just 33% shooting in their most recent game.
UCF Team Defense
So far this season, the UCF defense has been performing well, ranking 49th in the country at 66.9 points allowed per contest. In today’s game vs. Iowa State, the UCF defense will be looking to do a better job avoiding putting opponents on the line. In their last game, UCF made 24 free-throws vs. the Knights.
Cyclones vs Knights Trends
- Although Iowa State has a straight up record of 5-5 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 5-4-1. The team averaged 70 points per game in these games.
- In their last five home games, UCF has averaged 69 points per game while allowing 74. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-4 while going 3-2.
- In their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Knights have a straight up record of 4-6 and an ATS mark of 7-2-1.
- As the betting favorite, the Cyclones have an ATS mark of just 6-3-1 in their last ten games. Iowa State posted a straight up mark of 10-0 in these matchups.
Cyclones vs Knights Prediction
As the underdogs with a spread of +3.5, we recommend going with the Knights on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 132.5 and our model has the Cyclones and Knights finishing with a combined 143 points. Our pick is to take the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:March 2, 2024 Iowa State Cyclones, UCF Knights