The Kansas Jayhawks take on the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, IA. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Iowa State is favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -250. The total is set at 144 points.
Here are my Kansas vs. Iowa State predictions and college basketball picks for January 15, 2025.
Kansas vs Iowa State Prediction
My Pick: Under 144.5 (Play to 142.5)
My Kansas vs Iowa State best bet is on the under, with the best odds currently available at BetMGM. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Kansas vs Iowa State Odds
| Kansas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -110 | 144 -110o / -110u | +205 |
| Iowa State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -110 | 144 -110o / -110u | -250 |
- Kansas vs Iowa State spread: Iowa State -5.5
- Kansas vs Iowa State over/under: 144 points
- Kansas vs Iowa State moneyline: Iowa State -250, Kansas +205
- Kansas vs Iowa State best bet: Under 144.5 (Play to 142.5)
Spread
I initially liked the spread here, but after looking at recent trends, I went elsewhere.
Moneyline
I have no play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
Both programs have found themselves in slugfests as of late. I think that continues.
My Pick: Under 144.5 (Play to 142.5)
Kansas vs Iowa State College Basketball Betting Preview
Kansas Basketball
Kansas was the nation's preseason No. 1 team in the AP Poll and held that pole position for a few weeks, amid a 7-0 start. That included neutral-court wins over Duke and Michigan State and a home win over North Carolina.
Since then, the Jayhawks have pulled back to the pack a bit, only going 5-3 over their last eight games.
Points have been hard to come by, as the Jayhawks have failed to crack 70 points in that span. Even in a victory on Saturday, they scored just 54 points at Cincinnati.
The Jayhawks have struggled to shoot from the perimeter this season, making 33% of their 3-point attempts and 26% in Big 12 play. Additionally, they've fallen to 32nd in adjusted offensive efficiency.
Compared to last season, the Jayhawks have more depth, as head coach Bill Self has run a nine-man rotation, with seven players averaging at least six points per game.
However, the offense flows through Hunter Dickinson. The fifth-year senior is averaging a double-double for the second consecutive year (15.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG) with 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
Fellow fifth-year senior Dajuan Harris Jr. is one of the nation's best at controlling the tempo of the game, averaging 5.3 assists against 1.5 turnovers while forcing 1.5 steals per game himself.
Kansas hasn't been prolific at forcing turnovers, but it's been elite defensively overall, ranking fourth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency and first in conference play.
One area it may have an advantage in this game is on the glass. Kansas is 14th in defensive rebounding percentage, while Iowa State ranks outside the top 60 in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage.
Iowa State Basketball
In recent years, it hasn't always been easy for Iowa State to score, but the Clones continue to improve offensively. In the last five years, the Cyclones have ranked 213th, 171st, 114th, 52nd and now sixth in adjusted offensive efficiency.
Though they're still ninth in adjusted defensive efficiency, Saturday's 85-84 comeback victory over Texas Tech is a game that the Cyclones may not have won in years past.
The Cyclones are averaging 86.2 points per game this season and are led by five double-digit scorers. Guards Curtis Jones (17.3 PPG) and Keshon Gilbert (16.1 PPG) have both taken major leaps in their second year with the program. They combined for 31 in ISU's win over Kansas last year.
Down low, the Cyclones rely on the trio of Joshua Jefferson, Dishon Jackson and Brandton Chatfield. They'll have their hands full with Dickinson, but Iowa State will certainly make getting entry passes into the post a challenge. It ranks 15th in Division I with 9.9 steals per game and 12th in turnover percentage.
Veteran point guard Tamin Lipsey has taken a slight step back in handling the ball offensively, but he remains the same pesky defender. The junior is tied for 14th nationally and tied for second in the Big 12 with 2.4 steals per game.
Jefferson, Jones and Gilbert rank in the top 20 in the Big 12 in steals, as well, each averaging at least 1.4 steals per game.
Kansas vs. Iowa State Betting Analysis
As I was looking into this matchup, I was leaning towards Iowa State covering the spread. The Cyclones have won two of the last three meetings at Hilton Coliseum, including one by 15 points.
However, my best bet on this game is on the under.
This game features two top-10 defensive units and a struggling Kansas offense. Additionally, the under has hit in each of Kansas' last 10 games, eight of which finished under 144 points.
The under has also hit in seven of the last 10 meetings in this series.
In the seven games that went under, 132 points is the most points that were scored.
If that trend holds true, we have another rock fight in Ames.
