Iowa vs Iowa State Prediction 12/11/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes will meet on Thursday evening in a non‑conference rivalry matchup at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

The Iowa State Cyclones enter Thursday night’s contest with a 9–0 win‑loss record, including a 4–0 record at home. The Cyclones have compiled wins over Grambling, Mississippi State, Stonehill, St. John’s, Creighton, Alcorn State, Syracuse and Purdue. In the Iowa State Cyclones 81-58 win over the Purdue Boilermakers four days ago, junior forward Blake Buchanan tallied 12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks.

The Iowa State Cyclones average 94.6 points (4th in nation) on 54.9 percent shooting from the field (1st in country) and 43.8 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. Defensively, the Cyclones are allowing opponents 64.6 points per game which ranks 13th in the nation.

Junior forward Milan Momcilovic leads the Iowa State Cyclones averaging 18.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Senior forward Joshua Jefferson adds 17.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.7 steals per contest, while senior guard Tamin Lipsey contributes 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists per contest.

Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview

The Iowa Hawkeyes enter Thursday’s contest with an 8–1 record. The Hawkeyes have amassed wins over Western Illinois, Southeast Missouri State, Mississippi, Grand Canyon, and Maryland, while losing to the Michigan State Spartans. In the Iowa Hawkeyes 83–64 win over the Maryland Terrapins last week, Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz tallied 25 points on 10 of 17 from the field and 4 of 8 shooting from three-point range.

The Iowa Hawkeyes average 79.9 points on 51.7 percent shooting from the field (14th in country) and 37.7 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. Defensively, the Hawkeyes are allowing opponents 62.6 points per game which ranks 10th in the nation.

Senior guard Bennett Stirtz leads the Iowa Hawkeyes averaging 18.8 points, 2.6 rebounds,  4.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Freshman forward Cooper Koch adds 8.8 points, 4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1 assists per contest, while junior forward Cam Manyawu adds 7.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

Why the Iowa State Cyclones Will Win

•            Elite offense. The Iowa State Cyclones average 94.6 points per game which ranks 4th in the country.

•            Balanced roster. Momcilovic, Jefferson, and Lipsey provide scoring, rebounding, and playmaking ability.

•            Momentum. Iowa State enters tomorrow’s contest fresh off a dominant win over the Purdue Boilermakers.

Why the Iowa Hawkeyes Will Win

•            Quality guard play. Senior guard Bennett Stirtz leads the Iowa Hawkeyes in the scoring department averaging 18.8 points per game.

•            Efficient shooting. The Iowa Hawkeyes average 79.9 points on 51.7 percent shooting from the field (14th in country) per game.

•            Defensive consistency. The Hawkeyes allow opponent 62.6 points per game which ranks 10th in the nation.

Iowa State Cyclones vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Prediction

This matchup features the Iowa State Cyclones explosive offense and home dominance against the Iowa Hawkeyes efficient shooting and disciplined defense. I expect the Iowa State Cyclones to rely on Lipsey’s playmaking and Jefferson’s versatility to control tempo and pace, while the Iowa Hawkeyes will look to senior guard Bennett Stirtz to carry the scoring load.

Additionally, the Iowa State Cyclones ability to control pace at home should prove critical in this game. With Momcilovic stretching defenses from the perimeter and Jefferson anchoring the paint, the Iowa State Cyclones have the tools to extend the margin late. If Iowa fails to slow the tempo, the Cyclones balanced attack will likely secure another home victory. With that said, I am backing the Iowa State Cyclones to cover the 11.5 points in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Iowa State -11.5