Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Cyclones versus the Knights? Tip off is at at 4:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, FL. Iowa State is favored by -4 in this Big 12 conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 133.5 points.

IOWA STATE CYCLONES VS UCF KNIGHTS BETTING PICK

The Pick: UCF Knights +4

This game will be played at Addition Financial Arena at 4:00 ET on Saturday, March 2nd.

WHY BET THE UCF KNIGHTS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-67 in favor of the Knights.
  • Not only will UCF pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +4.
  • The over/under is currently sitting at 133.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 143 points.

Will Iowa State Secure A Victory as Road Favorites?

After a 58-45 win over Oklahoma, Iowa State improved their record to 22-6 on the season. They have won two straight games and are 11-4 in Big 12 play. The Cyclones have gone 11-2 in non-conference games.

So far this season, Iowa State has been the favorite in 20 of their 28 games. They have gone 18-2 in those games. On the road, they are 5-5, and their average scoring margin is -0.4 points per game.

As the favorite, Iowa State has gone 13-6-1 against the spread this season. Over their last three road games, the Cyclones are 2-0-1 vs. the spread and 5-4-1 on the road this year.

This season, the over/under record for Iowa State games is 15-13. So far, the average scoring total in their games is 139.5 points. Today’s over/under line of 133.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games this year (138.3). Over their last three games, their games have averaged 124 points.

Compared to their season average of 77.2 points per game, Iowa State struggled in their previous game. Against Oklahoma, the Cyclones scored 58 points while finishing with a field goal percentage of 33.3%. The top scorer for the Cyclones was Demarion Watson with 15 points, while Curtis Jones also added 11 to the scoreboard.

Currently, the Cyclones’ defense holds the 9th rank in the nation, allowing 62.3 points per game. Iowa State’s three-point defense is currently 191st in the country at 7.8 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponets have hit 40.4% of their shots vs. Iowa State.

Can the Knights Offense Score Enough at Home?

UCF comes into this game as a +4 underdog, and they have gone 4-8 in their 12 games as the underdog this season. Overall, the Knights are 15-12, including a 12-5 record at home. Their average scoring margin at home is +12.6, and they have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games at home.

In their last game, UCF defeated Oklahoma State by a score of 77-71. The Knights have won two games in a row, and they have gone 3-2 in their last five home games.

As the underdog, UCF has been solid vs. the spread this season, going 7-4-1. Their home ATS record is 10-6-1 and over their last 10 games as the underdog, they have gone 7-2-1 vs. the spread.

This year, the over/under record for UCF games is 14-12-1, and today’s line of 133.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games this year (138.9). Over their last three games, their over/under record is 1-1-1, and the average scoring total in those games is 142 points.

The UCF offense is coming off a game in which they scored 77 points vs. Oklahoma State. Overall their field goal percentage was 42.3% while connecting on 6 threes. Offensively, the Knights hold a season-long field goal percentage of 41%, placing them 353rd in the national rankings. When it comes to three-pointers, they are ranked 311st in terms of percentage and 234th in three-pointers made.

UCF’s defense has been playing well, ranking 49th nationally, with 66.9 points allowed per game. In terms of field goal percentage allowed, UCF’s defense has allowed opponents to shoot 40.8% from the field, including a three-point shooting percentage allowed of 32.2% this season.