It’s a heavyweight tilt in the Big 12 when the fifth-ranked Houston Cougars welcome in the eighth-ranked Iowa State Cyclones.
Houston sits atop the conference, with Iowa State three games back, tied for third. The Cyclones are hefty 12-point road underdogs in the college basketball odds. Our Iowa State vs Houston predictions have the Cyclones keeping it close with the bounty of points the books have offered.
I explain further with my college basketball picks ahead of this 2 p.m. ET tip on Saturday, February 22 from the Fertitta Center in Houston.
Iowa State vs Houston prediction
My best bet
Iowa State +12 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The Houston Cougars are rolling, dumping Arizona State 80-65 last time out to give them five straight wins. They've lost just once in 19 games, and that came by a single point vs. Texas Tech in a game that went to overtime.
KenPom’s third-ranked team is again an absolute dynamo on defense, allowing just 57.6 points per game. Houston is just one of three schools in the NCAA to keep teams under 60 points allowed.
The Cougars limit opponents to 38.3% shooting from the field and a slight 31.7% clip from 3-point range (74th).
They provide an above-average offense, scoring 75.4 points per game, ranking seventh in the Big 12. Most notable is their Top 10 ranking from 3-point range, converting at a slick 39.4% rate.
The Iowa State Cyclones appear to be one of the few teams in the nation that can go toe-to-toe with the Cougars.
They’ve ripped off four straight wins, all by double digits, including a 79-65 whipping of Colorado last time out.
The Cyclones sit 19th in KenPom’s offensive efficiency rating and second in the Big 12 in scoring at 81.3 points per game. ISU is also a sturdy 10th on the defensive side, allowing just 66.9 points per game. Iowa State is the only team in the Big 12 to rank inside the Top 4 in both scoring offense and defense.
The Cyclones have owned this head-to-head, winning four of five, while going 4-0-1 against the spread in those games.
While Houston has the third-highest average scoring margin in the country at 17.8 points per game, that hasn’t been the case against top teams. This will be the Cougars' sixth ranked opponent, and they’ve gone 2-3 ATS in the previous five, with their largest margin of victory being six points.
Look for Iowa State to hang tough with Houston.
Iowa State vs Houston same-game parlay (SGP)
Iowa State +12
LJ Cryer Over 14.5 points
Milan Momcilovic Under 12.5 points
LJ Cryer leads the Cougars in scoring at 14.5 PPG, and he’s been on a nice scoring run of late, coming off an 18-point effort in the win over Arizona State on 6-for-13 shooting. He’s crossed today's 14.5-point line in six of his last seven games, missing a seventh by a single point.
He’s bested that number in three of his last four against ranked opponents.
We’ll wrap with ISU sophomore Milan Momcilovic, who had 13 points in the win over Colorado.
However, scoring hasn’t come easy for Momcilovic as of late, as he’s gone Under his 12.5 scoring line in six of the last nine, scoring in single digits four times.
Houston isn’t exactly a get-right opponent to find your offensive groove, either.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Iowa State vs Houston odds
Iowa State vs Houston live odds
Iowa State vs Houston opening odds
- Spread: Iowa State +7.5 (-110) | Houston -7.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Iowa State +260 | Houston -320
- Over/Under: Over 134.5 (-110) | Under 134.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Iowa State vs Houston betting trend to know
Iowa State has covered the spread in 22 of its last 37 games (+5.5 units / 14% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Iowa State vs. Houston.
How to watch Iowa State vs Houston
| Location | Fertitta Center, Houston, TX |
| Date | Saturday, 2-22-2025 |
| Tip-off | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Iowa State vs Houston key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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