Tennessee State Tigers vs Iowa State Cyclones NCAAB Betting Pick & Prediction for 3/20
The NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament kicks off with an exciting first-round game between the Tennessee State Tigers and the Iowa State Cyclones. Tennessee State enters as a 15 seed, while Iowa State holds the 2 seed. This game will take place at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO, on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 2:50 PM ET.
Tennessee State has had a strong season, finishing with an overall record of 23-9 and a conference record of 17-5 in the Ohio Valley. Iowa State, ranked #6 in the AP poll, ended their season with a 27-7 overall record and a 14-7 mark in the Big 12. Fans can catch the action live on CBS as these two teams meet in the Midwest Region.
Tennessee State Tigers vs Iowa State Cyclones Game Day Info
- Sport: College Basketball
- Teams: Tennessee State Tigers vs Iowa State Cyclones
- Venue: Enterprise Center, St. Louis MO
- Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
- Betting Odds: Iowa State -24.5, Tennessee State +24.5
Tennessee State Tigers Team Preview
The Tennessee State Tigers are coming off a strong run in their recent games. They secured a big win against Morehead State with a score of 93-67. The team showed impressive shooting with a field goal percentage of 49.3%. Antoine Lorick III led the team with 18 points and a shooting percentage of 66.7%.
The Tigers have been performing well this season with an overall record of 23-9. They average 80.5 points per game, ranking 88th in the nation. Their field goal percentage stands at 46.0%, and they are effective in making free throws at 76.5%.
Key players for the Tigers include Aaron Nkrumah and Travis Harper II. Nkrumah averages 17.6 points per game with a 43.7% field goal percentage. Harper contributes 17.2 points per game and maintains a 47.6% shooting accuracy. These players are crucial to the Tigers’ offensive strength.
Iowa State Cyclones Team Preview
The Iowa State Cyclones have been performing well this season. They have an overall record of 27-7 and a conference record of 14-7. The team ranks sixth in the AP poll and is a member of the Big 12 Conference.
The Cyclones have been strong on offense, scoring 81.8 points per game. They have an effective field goal percentage of 56.5, which ranks 24th. Their ability to make three-pointers is notable with a 38.6% success rate, ranking 30th.
On defense, the Cyclones average 9.0 steals per game. They also maintain 2.7 blocks per game. The team has managed to keep their turnovers low, with an average of 10.1 per game.
BTB Betting Pick
The spread for the game is Iowa State -24.5. Iowa State scores 81.8 points per game while Tennessee State scores 80.5. Iowa State also has a strong field goal percentage of 49.0. This suggests Iowa State will cover the spread, winning by a projected score of 90 to 65.
The over/under line is set at 148.5. The combined average points per game for both teams is 162.3. Given their scoring stats, the total points are likely to go over 148.5. Expect a high-scoring game with a total around 155 points.