Iowa State vs Iowa Odds, Predictions & Player Props (Dec. 12)

• The Iowa State Cyclones visit the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday night
• The Hawkeyes won last year’s meeting but the Cyclones have won four of the last six
• See the Iowa State vs Iowa odds, predictions, and player props for Dec. 12, 2024

The Cy-Hawk rivalry resumes on Thursday night in Iowa City as the #3 Iowa State Cyclones (7-1, 0-0 away, 5-3 ATS) visit the Iowa Hawkeyes (7-2, 6-0 home, 4-5 ATS) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 6:30 pm CT/7:30 pm ET. Though the Hawkeyes are a perfect 6-0 at home so far this season, the Cyclones are 6.5-point road favorites.

Iowa State vs Iowa Odds

The Cyclones are also -270 moneyline favorites while the Hawkeyes come back as +220 home underdogs. The over/under is sitting at 159.5.

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Iowa State has a reputation as a slow-paced, defense-first team but that narrative is shifting this year. Iowa State still has a stifling defense, which is rated eighth in efficiency at KenPom, but they’re playing at the 89th-fastest tempo (compared to 202nd last year) and their offensive efficiency has jumped from 52nd to seventh.

The Cyclones only loss this season came against then-#4 Auburn in Maui (83-81), a game in which they blew an 18-point halftime lead.

Guards Keshon Gilbert (17.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 5.5 APG) and Curtis Jones (16.3 PPG, .5 RPG, 2.8 APG) lead the team in scoring so far.

Iowa’s two losses both came away from home to top-50 teams. They fell 77-69 to Utah State in Kansas City on Nov. 22 and lost to Big Ten rival Michigan (85-83 away) last Saturday.

Their best wins this season were a 76-66 win over Washington State (#74 at KenPom) in Illinois, and a 80-79 home victory over Northwestern (#58) in their Big Ten opener.

Iowa has four players averaging double-figures, lead by forwards Owen Freeman (16.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.3 APG) and Payton Sandfort (16.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.0 APG).

ISU vs IOWA Player Props

Player props as of Dec. 12 at FanDuel. Check out SBD’s list of the best betting app.

Gilbert and Sandfort have the highest point totals of the night in the Iowa State vs Iowa player props, both listed at 17.5, though Sandfor is favored to go over (-120) while Gilbert is -130 to stay under that number.

ISU big man Joshua Jefferson (10.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG) has the highest rebound total of the night at 7.5.

Iowa State vs Iowa Predictions

This is a big number to cover on the road against a quality opponent, not to mention one that’s a hated rival. Iowa State dominated last year’s game in Ames (90-65) but the Cyclones have yet to play a true road game this season, and their performances in Maui were a mixed bag. I’m not going so far as to pick Iowa to win straight-up, but I will take the 6.5 points on offer.

• Iowa +6.5 (-115) at FanDuel

Sascha Paruk’s 2024-25 NCAAM betting record: 10-5 (+4.54 units). All wagers one unit unless expressly stated otherwise.