UCF Knights vs Iowa State Cyclones NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/21/25
Planning on watching today’s Knights and Cyclones game? Catch the action at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA, as the Cyclones hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The odds for this Big 12 conference game currently have Iowa State as the -16.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 151.5 points.
UCF KNIGHTS VS IOWA STATE CYCLONES BETTING PICK
The Pick: UCF Knights +16.5
This game will be played at Hilton Coliseum at 8:00 ET on Tuesday, January 21st.
WHY BET THE UCF KNIGHTS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-71 in favor of the Cyclones.
- Even though we have Iowa State winning straight-up, we like UCF at +16.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 151.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Is an Upset Waiting to Happen on the Road?
UCF Knights Recent Game/Games
The Knights fell to 12-5 on the season after a narrow 69-68 loss to Houston on Saturday. Playing at home, UCF entered the game as +13.5 point underdogs but managed to keep it close, covering the spread.
UCF led 38-30 at halftime but allowed 39 points in the 2nd half while scoring 30. The game’s total points of 137 fell just under the O/U line of 138.5.
UCF scored 68 points in their last game, shooting 40.3% from the field and 30.4% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 45.2%, and they hit 64.7% of their free throws, going 11-for-17 from the line.
J’Wan Roberts led the way with 21 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 58.8% from the field. Moustapha Thiam added 18 points on 70% shooting, while Ja’Vier Francis contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 5 of his 6 shots.
UCF’s defense gave up 69 points in their previous game, with the opposing team shooting 40% from the field, hitting 25 of their 62 attempts. Inside the arc, they connected on 18 of 39 shots for 46%.
From three-point range, UCF held their opponent to 30%, as they made 7 of 23 attempts. At the free-throw line, the opposing team shot 64%, making 11 of 17. UCF also allowed 16 offensive rebounds.
Will Iowa State Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?
The Cyclones dropped to 15-2 on the season after a 64-57 road loss to West Virginia on Saturday. Iowa State went into the game as -6.5 favorites but failed to cover the spread.
Trailing 25-24 at halftime, Iowa State scored 33 points in the second half but allowed 39. The game’s total points of 121 fell short of the 136.5 O/U line.
Iowa State’s offense struggled from beyond the arc in their last game, hitting just 1 of 17 three-point attempts for a 5.9% shooting percentage. Despite their long-range woes, they connected on 60% of their two-point shots, finishing with an overall field goal percentage of 43.9% and an effective field goal percentage of 45.6%.
The Cyclones managed just 4 assists as a team and grabbed 8 offensive rebounds. At the free-throw line, they made 6 of 7 attempts, shooting 85.7%.
Defensively, Iowa State held their opponent to 64 points on 39% shooting from the field. The Cyclones limited two-point opportunities, with the other team hitting 44% of their shots inside the arc, going 13/29.
From three-point range, Iowa State’s defense allowed 9 made threes on 27 attempts, a 33% shooting performance. They also sent the opponent to the free-throw line 14 times, where they converted 11, shooting 78%. The Cyclones gave up 5 offensive rebounds in the game.