There's plenty left to play for when the 10th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones visit the Kansas State Wildcats to close out the regular season.
The Cyclones, who have dropped three of their last four, are still pegged as 6.5-point road favorites in the college basketball odds.
With a blowout win over the Cyclones this season, our Iowa State vs. Kansas State prediction has this one a much tighter battle, potentially going down to the wire.
Read on for my college basketball picks for Saturday, March 8.
Iowa State vs Kansas State prediction
My best bet
Kansas State +6.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The Kansas State Wildcats might have done just enough to shake a late-season four-game losing streak and keep their season alive into March.
Kansas State dumped Cincinnati 54-49 last game, giving them back-to-back wins before this tilt with the Iowa State Cyclones.
A win would give them a likely first-round bye in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, a big help for a team that will likely need a big push in that tourney to make it to the dance.
They dropped Iowa State – ranked third at the time -- 80-61 on February 1, limiting the Cyclones to 36.5% shooting from the floor and outscoring them 30-22 in the paint.
They might be catching them again at the right time.
The Cyclones struggled through a meaty part of their schedule, dropping a 68-59 decision to 5th-ranked Houston, then losing to Oklahoma State, beating 22nd-ranked Arizona 84-67 before losing 88-85 in double overtime to no. 23 BYU last time out.
Even through that stretch, Iowa State is headed to the dance and has eyes on a no. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
They're fourth in scoring in the conference at 80.4 points per game, with a defense that holds schools to 67.9 points.
Kansas State has shown it can match that defensive level, and they're ninth in the Big 12, allowing 69.6 points per game.
The big surprise last meeting was the Wildcats shooting 10-for-20 from 3-point range, when they usually hit at a 33.6% clip during the regular season.
The Wildcats also have the third-best cover rate at home among Big 12 teams, going 8-6-0 against the spread.
Iowa State should take it, but expect it to be a close encounter.
Iowa State vs Kansas State same-game parlay (SGP)
Kansas State +6.5
David N'Guessan Over 6.5 rebounds
Keshon Gilbert Under 10.5 points
It's the last home game for four K-State seniors, who will be honored Saturday. One of those is senior big man David N'Guessan.
The Wildcats' leading scorer and rebounder, N'Guessan, is coming off an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double.
He's topped his 6.5 rebound line eight times in his last 10, including in the win over Iowa State.
We'll wrap with Iowa senior Keshon Gilbert. The 6-foot-4 guard is coming off a 13-point effort in the loss to BYU, but he's struggled to score down the stretch.
Gilbert has scored in single digits in five of his last eight contests, including an 8-point performance in 3-for-9 shooting against KState.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Iowa State vs Kansas State odds
Iowa State vs Kansas State live odds
Iowa State vs Kansas State opening odds
- Spread: Iowa State -6.5 (-110) | Kansas State +6.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Iowa State (-300) | Kansas State (+240)
- Over/Under: Over 140.5 (-115) | Under 140.5 (-105)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Iowa State vs Kansas State betting trend to know
The Wildcats are 4-2-0 against the spread vs the Cyclones in the last six meetings. Find more college basketball betting trends for Iowa State vs. Kansas State.
How to watch Iowa State vs Kansas State
| Location | Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, KS |
| Date | Saturday, 3-8-2025 |
| Tip-off | 1:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | CBS |
Iowa State vs Kansas State key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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