Washington State vs Iowa State Odds, Predictions & Picks (Mar. 23)

• Iowa State is a favorite over Washington State in the Saturday March Madness odds
• We’ve made our WSU vs ISU prediction to help you place a bet on the game
• Read below for Iowa State vs Washington State odds, predictions & picks

The No. 7 seed Washington State Cougars will face off against the No. 2 seed Iowa State Cyclones in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Tip-off is set for 6:10 p.m. EDT at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska and the game will be televised on TNT.

Iowa State enters as a 6.5-point favorite with the over/under total set at 129 points. Can the Cougars pull off an upset in Round 2 of the tournament?

Let’s get into our Washington State vs Iowa State prediction, as we analyze the odds and provide our expert picks.

Washington State vs Iowa State Odds

In the WSU vs ISU odds, the Cyclones are -290 moneyline favorites, giving them an implied win probability of 74%.

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Odds as of March 22, 2024, at Bet365 Sportsbook. Take advantage of the Bet365 promotions to bet on Washington State vs Iowa State, plus other Round 2 March Madness action.

Cougars Betting Trends

Washington State advanced after upsetting 10-seed Drake 66-61 in the first round. The Cougars were led by guard TJ Bamba, who scored 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Forward Mouhamed Gueye added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds

On the season, Washington State ranks 25th in the AP Poll with a 25-9 record, including 15-7 in Pac-12 play. The Cougars are 18-16 against the spread and 14-19-1 to the under this year.

Another day to get better at basketball 📝 🏀 #GoCougs // #MarchHarvest#WheatfieldUnderdogs // #CVE pic.twitter.com/KMrEPmBLVJ

— Washington State Men's Basketball (@WSUCougarsMBB) March 22, 2024

Washington State’s strength is their defense, which ranks 22nd in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency. The Cougars hold opponents to just 66.7 points per game. They have a problem containing playmaking guards, however, as exemplified by Drake piling up 18 assists in the last game.

WSU is led offensively by guard TJ Bamba (15.3 ppg) and forward Mouhamed Gueye (14.6 ppg, 8.6 RPG). However, Washington State struggles to score at times, ranking just 114th in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency.

Cyclones Betting Trends

Iowa State cruised to a 76-57 victory over 15-seed South Dakota State in their tournament opener. The Cyclones had four players score in double figures, led by Jaren Holmes’ 19 points. Gabe Kalscheur chipped in 16 points and Osun Osunniyi had a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Iowa State is 28-7 overall, 16-5 in the Big 12, and ranked 4th in the latest AP Poll. The Cyclones are 23-10-2 ATS and 17-18-0 on over/unders.

Ready to get back out there. #Cyclones | #C5C pic.twitter.com/lczQ93E29Q

— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) March 22, 2024

Iowa State boasts the nation’s top defense according to KenPom, allowing only 61.4 points per contest. The Cyclones also force turnovers on 24.5% of opponent possessions, the 4th highest rate in the country.

Offensively, Iowa State averages a solid 75.7 points per game and shoots 36.6% from three-point range. The Cyclones are led by a balanced attack featuring Jaren Holmes (13.6 ppg), Gabe Kalscheur (12.8 ppg) and Tamin Lipsey (7.8 ppg, 5.0 apg).

Washington State vs Iowa State Prediction

With Iowa State’s suffocating defense and more consistent offensive attack, the Cyclones have clear the edge on paper. KenPom predicts a 68-62 Iowa State victory, giving the Cyclones a 79% chance to advance to the Sweet 16.

Washington State has proven capable of pulling off upsets, as evidenced by their 77-74 road win over Arizona as 14-point underdogs in late February. The Cougars will need a similar defensive effort and timely shooting to overcome the stingy Cyclones.

Ultimately, Iowa State’s superior balance and elite defense makes them our pick to cover the 6.5-point spread. The Cyclones’ ability to win with defense and just enough offense has been their calling card all season. Expect a low-scoring grind that stays under the total as Iowa State punches their ticket to the second weekend of the Big Dance.

In recent losses, Washington lost by six points to Colorado, six points to Washington, and 12 points to Arizona State. Don’t be afraid to lay the points with the favorite here while tossing the under in a same-game parlay.

WSU vs ISU Picks:

• Iowa State -6.5 (-110)
• Under 129 Points (-110)