#9 Kansas vs #2 Iowa State: Odds, Predictions & Key Insights | January 15, 2025
Written by: Colby Marchio
Published: Wed Jan 15, 2025, 12:24 pm ET
Read Time: 4 minutes
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A top-10 showdown unfolds in Ames, Iowa, as No. 2 Iowa State hosts No. 9 Kansas in a high-stakes Big 12 clash. The Cyclones are fresh off an overtime road victory against Texas Tech, while the Jayhawks enter on a three-game winning streak. Both teams are fighting for positioning in one of the toughest conferences in the nation. Can Kansas' road-tested defense hold up against Iowa State's consistency at home?
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#9 Kansas vs #2 Iowa State Odds
Can Kansas make some noise in Ames tonight?
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.
Spread
Kansas: +5 (-108)
Iowa State: -5 (-112)
Total
Over: 143.5 (-104)
Under: 143.5 (-116)
Moneyline
Kansas: +190
Iowa State: -220
#9 Kansas vs #2 Iowa State Bet
Game of the night in Ames, Iowa: No. 2 Iowa State hosts No. 9 Kansas following an 85-84 overtime road win against Texas Tech. Now the Cyclones must face a Kansas team riding a three-game winning streak, dating back to their home loss against West Virginia.
Kansas has been one of the most battle-tested teams on the road this season, taking on Michigan State, Duke, Creighton, Missouri, UCF, and Cincinnati—each ranked in the top 100. However, their offensive struggles are notable. The Jayhawks rank 284th in effective field goal percentage, with their two- and three-point shooting sitting in the upper 200s. Free-throw opportunities have been scarce, as they rank tenth worst in free throw rate offense. Despite these challenges, Kansas' offense has been respectable against top-50 schools, ranking 142nd in adjusted offensive efficiency.
On defense, the Jayhawks excel, ranking top five in adjusted defensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage defense, and two-point defense. Against top-50 teams on the road, Kansas thrives in forcing turnovers, rebounding, and defending the two and three, ranking in the top 75 in all four categories.
Haslametrics gives Kansas a clear edge in strength of schedule, momentum, and away/home court performance. Iowa State's advantage lies in consistency. Per Haslametrics, "Iowa State appears to be one of college basketball's more consistent units (37th in the nation in consistency), while Kansas (275th in consistency) has been much more erratic."
Given Kansas' current form and Iowa State's exhausting overtime battle against Texas Tech, the Jayhawks are well-positioned to cover the five-point spread. Be sure to shop around, as some spreads are still listed at 6.5 as of noon Eastern.
Bet: Kansas (+5) on BetOnline
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Former D1 (club) baseball player, Colby has been betting since his college days at DePaul, where he had to endure the worst collegiate basketball the Big East has ever seen. He is an advanced analytics nerd and has never seen an underdog he has not liked. Hot. Corn. Bull. It does not matter the dog he loves them all.
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