The West Virginia Mountaineers will take on the #3 Iowa State Cyclones on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 9:00 PM ET. The game will be held at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA, and will be broadcast on ESPN2. This Big 12 conference matchup features Iowa State as the favorite with a spread of -16.5, while West Virginia is the underdog with a moneyline of +1022.

West Virginia vs. Iowa State Betting Prediction

• Spread Prediction: West Virginia +16.5. West Virginia has covered as an underdog in both games this season. Iowa State has struggled to cover recently, going 0-3 ATS in their last three games.
• Over/Under Prediction: Over 140.5. Iowa State scores 90.4 points per game, and West Virginia allows 76.2 points per game, suggesting a high-scoring game.

Team Trends

• The game will be played at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA.
• Iowa State Cyclones are the favorites with a spread of -16.5.
• West Virginia Mountaineers have a moneyline of +1022.
• West Virginia is 0-2 straight up as an underdog this season.
• Iowa State is 13-0 straight up for the season.

West Virginia vs Iowa State Preview

The West Virginia Mountaineers are set to meet the Iowa State Cyclones in a Big 12 game at Hilton Coliseum. West Virginia has a 9-4 record this season, with all their wins coming at home. They have struggled on the road, going 0-2. Their recent game was a strong performance against Mississippi Valley State, winning by 35 points. Treysen Eaglestaff led the team with 23 points.

Iowa State holds a perfect 13-0 record and is ranked third in the AP poll. They have been dominant at home with an 11-0 record. In their last game, they defeated Houston Christian by 28 points. Joshua Jefferson was a standout with 23 points and 8 rebounds. The Cyclones are favored in this game with a spread of -16.5. The game will be on ESPN2 at 9:00 PM ET.

Iowa State Cyclones: A Strong Start to the Season

The Iowa State Cyclones are having a great season so far. They hold a perfect 13-0 record in the 2026 regular season. At home, they have won all 11 games, showing their strength on their own court. In recent games, the Cyclones have shown strong performances. They won against the Houston Christian Huskies with a score of 89-61. Joshua Jefferson led the team with 23 points and 8 rebounds in that game. The Cyclones’ offense is impressive, ranking 22nd in points per game at 90.4. They have a high field goal percentage of 53.2, which ranks 4th. Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson are key players contributing to their success.

West Virginia Mountaineers: Seeking an Upset

The West Virginia Mountaineers have a 9-4 record this season. They have been strong at home with a 9-2 record. However, they have struggled on the road, going 0-2. In recent games, the Mountaineers have shown they can score. They won against Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils 86-51. Treysen Eaglestaff scored 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in that game. Honor Huff is a key player for the Mountaineers. He averages 17.5 points per game and has a high three-point percentage of 41.7%. Brenen Lorient also contributes with 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Final Betting Pick

West Virginia’s spread of +16.5 looks promising because they have been strong as underdogs. They have covered in both games this season when not favored. Iowa State has not covered in their last three games, which suggests they might struggle to cover this spread as well.

Looking at the over/under, the over 140.5 seems likely. Iowa State scores 90.4 points per game, which is high. West Virginia allows 76.2 points per game, indicating that both teams could combine for a high total score. This makes the over a good pick for this game.

---

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.