#6 Iowa State vs. #23 BYU Picks and Predictions: Big 12 After Dark
Written by: Nate Hornung
Last Update: Fri Feb 20, 2026, 10:42 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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While the afternoon focus in the best conference in college hoops will be on the top five battle between Arizona and Houston, we are blessed with some Big 12 after dark action with some more ranked on ranked teams going at it. The No. 6 Iowa State Cyclones are fresh off a win over the Houston Cougars, but now face the other Cougars as they head to Provo, Utah to take on No. 23 BYU. The hosts are without Richie Saunders and are coming off a loss to Arizona, but can they bounce back at home against a top 10 opponent? Let's see how our CBB experts are wagering on this contest by checking out their favorite picks.
Best Bet: Iowa State -3.5 (-105) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
#6 Iowa State Cyclones vs. #23 BYU Cougars NCAA Basketball Insights
Will AJ Dybantsa be able to replicate his 35 point performance at Arizona this weekend against the Cyclones?
Iowa State is fighting for a top seed in March Madness. According to myself, they are the top two seed and could certainly move up if they finish strong and knock off either Arizona or Houston in the Big 12 tournament. But this win on the road won't be easy. However, the Cyclones do have a couple extra days of rest, as they played last Monday, while BYU went toe to toe with Arizona on Wednesday night.
Traveling from Tucson and back isn't as far of a flight as it is from Ames, Iowa to Provo, but regardless, the extra 48 hours of down time will certainly come into play in my eyes. Plus, without Saunders, we saw how one dimensional the Cougars offense is. Sure, AJ Dybantsa single-handedly kept them in the game against Arizona by dropping 35 points, but can he do it again against one of the toughest defenses in the country? If I had to guess, I'd be betting on no, he cannot.
Matchup Information – Iowa State vs. BYU – February 21
- Venue & Location: Marriot Center (Provo, UT)
- Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
- Kick Off: 10:30 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN
Iowa State vs. BYU Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of February 20, 2026 at 1:56 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- Iowa State -3.5 (-110)
- BYU +3.5 (-110)
Moneyline
- Iowa State -185
- BYU +154
Total
- Over 155.5 (-110)
- Under 155.5 (-110)
#6 Iowa State vs. #23 BYU NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Joshua Jefferson is a triple double threat every night, averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 boards and 5.2 assists per game
Iowa State vs. BYU Prediction: Iowa State Wins and Covers, Under 155.5
Best Bet: Iowa State -3.5 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Even on the road, this line is far too low. Yes, laying 3.5 points away from home against a ranked opponent can be scary, but I have much more faith in the way the Cyclones are playing recently. They have the defense to contain Dybantsa and Killyan Toure or Tamin Lipsey are more than capable of making Robert Wright's life hell, even in his own gym.
Although they prefer to slow things down a tad, Iowa State has the offensive capacity to score at will, and if BYU chooses to speed things up (which they will), they will simply be giving the visitors more chances to put the ball in the hoop and cover this spread. Both teams struggle to get to the free throw line and do a great job of keeping their foes off of it, yet the Cyclones have the much bigger advantage overall defensively.
We saw them constantly harassing Houston and Kansas guards when they came to Ames, and even on the road, they'll be able to do the same to BYU. Ultimately, the Cougars are floundering. They've now lost six of their last nine games overall after starting the season 16-1, and with Iowa State fighting for a one seed, the Cyclones have much more to play for in my eyes.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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