Number 25 Baylor heads to Ames to face #3 Iowa State on Saturday afternoon. The game is at 2:00 PM ET on CBS. Can Iowa State cover the 8.5-point spread as home favorites? Keep reading for our Baylor vs. Iowa State prediction.
The Baylor Bears are 9-3 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 5-5-1 ATS this season.
The Iowa State Cyclones are 11-1 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 7-5 ATS this season.
Baylor vs. Iowa State Matchup & Betting Odds
665 Baylor Bears (+8.5) at 666 Iowa State Cyclones (-8.5); o/u 152.5
2:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, January 4, 2025
Hilton Coliseum, Ames, IA
TV: CBS
Baylor vs. Iowa State Public Betting Information
Our CBB Public Betting Information page indicates that 56% of public bettors are currently backing Baylor when it comes to the spread. This information is subject to change throughout the day, however, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Baylor Bears Game Notes
Bears guard VJ Edgecombe was excellent in his team’s 81-56 win over Utah on New Year’s Eve. The freshman from the Bahamas put up 19 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals in 25 minutes. Edgecombe shot 6 of 10 from the field and 2 of 4 from long range in the victory.
Baylor guard Robert Wright III provided a spark off the bench in his team’s game on Tuesday. The freshman from Wilmington, DE recorded 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, a blocked shot, and a made three-pointer. Wright is second on the team in scoring with 13.1 points per game this season.
Iowa State Cyclones Game Notes
Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert was solid in his team’s 79-69 win over Colorado on Monday. The 6’4” senior from St. Louis logged 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists in 31 minutes. Gilbert shot 6 of 10 from the floor and 2 of 2 from the charity stripe in the win.
Iowa State guard Curtis Jones was a difference-maker off the bench in his team’s game last Monday. In 29 minutes, the senior from Minneapolis registered 20 points, 3 rebounds, and a steal. Jones is tied for the team lead in scoring with 16.3 points per game this year.
Baylor vs. Iowa State CBB Betting Trends
Baylor is 15-12-3 ATS after a win since the start of last season.
The Bears are 6-4-1 ATS as the road team since the beginning of last season.
The over is 44-35 in Baylor’s games since the start of the 2022 season.
Iowa State is 1-2 ATS in their last 3 games overall.
Baylor vs. Iowa State CBB Prediction:
Baylor is due for a cover against Iowa State. The Bears are 0-9 ATS in their last 9 games against the Cyclones. Baylor is 5-4 straight up in those contests, meaning that Iowa State was the underdog in nearly every one of those games (8 out of 9 to be exact). Now the Bears will be getting points against the Cyclones. For that reason, I like this spot for Baylor.
As an underdog, Baylor is 40-34-2 ATS since the start of the 2015 season. In that same stretch, the Bears are 27-22-2 ATS as a road underdog. These teams are fairly even. Two out of the last three matchups between these teams have been decided by 6 points or less. I think we get another close game in Ames on Saturday. That result would mean that the Bears would cover. Baylor is the pick.