The Iowa State Cyclones take on the BYU Cougars in the Big 12 Tournament. Tip-off is set for 12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Iowa State is favored by 2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -155. The total is set at 145.5 points.
Here are my Iowa State vs. BYU predictions and college basketball picks for March 13, 2025.
Iowa State vs BYU Prediction
My Pick: BYU ML +130
My Iowa State vs BYU best bet is on the Cougars moneyline, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Iowa State vs BYU Odds
| Iowa State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -110 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | -155 |
| BYU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -110 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | +130 |
- Iowa State vs BYU spread: Iowa State -2.5
- Iowa State vs BYU over/under: 145.5 points
- Iowa State vs BYU moneyline: Iowa State -155, BYU +130
- Iowa State vs BYU best bet: BYU ML +130
Spread
I'm betting BYU in this game, but I like the Cougars to win outright.
Moneyline
My best bet for this game is BYU on the moneyline. The statuses of Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey loom large for Iowa State, potentially giving the Cougars an advantage.
Over/Under
I'm staying away from the total here.
My Pick: BYU ML +130
Iowa State vs BYU College Basketball Betting Preview
The most important thing in March is something teams can't control: health. Iowa State just can't stay fully healthy for a single game — barely a half.
Keshon Gilbert played just 10 minutes in Iowa State's 20-point win over Cincinnati in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament in his return to action. Plus, Tamin Lipsey missed the final five minutes of the game with an injury, though it sounds like he'll play.
But at what point does T.J. Otzelberger weigh the risk versus reward in playing Lipsey, assuming Gilbert is out? The real prize is whatever happens next week. The Cyclones have very little to gain in the Big 12 Tournament.
Despite the injuries, Iowa State put together a strong offensive showing against a strong Cincinnati defense.
The Cyclones recorded 1.18 points per possession, led by 19 points and five assists from stud four-man Joshua Jefferson. However, he'll have a difficult matchup against Mawot Mag, one of the elite defenders in the Big 12.
Assuming Gilbert is out and Lipsey is at less than 100%, the Cyclones will need a rise in production from everyone else. That starts with Curtis Jones, who's capable of dropping 25 but also capable of a clunker.
Nobody on Iowa State's roster can put pressure on the rim like Gilbert, so it limits Iowa State's offense to more shooting than rim scoring.
Meanwhile, BYU is playing great right now, ranking seventh in Bart Torvik's rankings since Feb. 1. The Cougars have collected eight consecutive wins — five of which came by 10 points or more.
We're talking about a BYU team that wasn't even an NCAA Tournament lock about six weeks ago and is now pushing for a 4- or 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
It definitely took Kevin Young a little time to figure out the best way to win in college. He's shifted his style to playing faster and featuring more players. Even a guy like Trey Stewart, who didn't touch the court early on, is playing big bench minutes.
Since Feb. 1, the Cougars offense has been the nation's sixth-most efficient offense, dominating teams inside and out with a 60% two-point percentage and 49.5% 3-point percentage.
When BYU stunned Iowa State in Ames a few weeks back, the Cougars had 52 rebounds to Iowa State's 24. That's quite the disparity, especially as 17 came on the offensive end for the Cougars.
The Cyclones didn't have an answer for Keba Keita, who grabbed 15 rebounds. Let's see if that was an anomaly or if BYU can create a bunch of extra possessions on the glass again.
BYU has one clear go-to option in All-Big 12 first-teamer Richie Saunders. He averages 16 points per game and is one of nine players who average at least six PPG on the Cougars' roster.
It can be a different guy every night besides Saunders, which speaks to the Cougars' depth.
The real X-Factor is Egor Demin, who's a projected NBA lottery pick for his size and skill, but he tends to get turnover-happy. He'll need to be careful with the ball to keep Iowa State from stealing easy points.
If we can get plus-money on BYU to win, I'm taking that as I buy into the Cougars' sudden resurgence and fade Iowa State with its health problems.
