The No. 6-ranked Iowa State Cyclones are set to face off against the No. 23 BYU Cougars tonight in Provo, making this matchup one to watch in the college basketball landscape. Iowa State, boasting a record of 23-3, brings a strong performance into the game, having recently claimed victories against top-tier teams such as No. 2 Houston and No. 8 Kansas.
The Cyclones are distinguished as one of only five schools in the nation ranked in the Top 15 of both adjusted offense and adjusted defense according to KenPom, a balanced approach that suggests they will excel against the struggling BYU team. The Cougars have been rattled by the recent season-ending injury to All-Big 12 guard Richie Saunders, which places them at a disadvantage as they try to navigate the remaining schedule. In a display of their struggles, BYU narrowly defeated a Colorado team they were expected to easily beat, relying heavily on standout Rob Wright’s performance.
Given BYU’s challenges, particularly with their depth already limited after sixth man Dallin Hall sustained a season-ending injury, the game could tilt significantly in favor of Iowa State. Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey stands out with odds favoring him to surpass 4.5 assists, having done so in 15 out of 23 games this season. The Cougars have also struggled defensively, ranking 14th in the conference for adjusted defense and allowing opponents to shoot an alarming 41.2% from beyond the arc. This could pave the way for Iowa State sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic, who is averaging 18.0 points per game and shooting over 51% from three-point range.
Betting trends further support Iowa State’s position, as the Cougars have only managed to cover the first-half spread in eight of their last 25 games, indicating a recent struggle to maintain early game performance.
Tonight’s game will take place at the Marriott Center in Provo at 10:30 p.m. ET, and viewers can catch the action live on ESPN. With the odds in favor of the Cyclones, fans have reason to be optimistic about their chances against a BYU team that is reeling from injuries and recent underwhelming performances.