Iowa State vs West Virginia Odds, Picks and Predictions: Cyclones Lack Wind on Road

The Iowa State Cyclones and West Virginia Mountaineers meet up in a key Big 12 battle on Wednesday evening. 

Iowa State, the No. 11 team in the country, slapped the brakes on a two-game losing streak with an emphatic 68-53 win over Kansas last time out on Saturday.

West Virginia absolutely smoked Oklahoma by a 93-61 score as a 5.5-point favorite as the Over cashed, and the Mountaineers have won three of the past four games overall.

This is the first meeting between these teams, as they’ll also face each other in Ames on February 27.

Will the Cyclones be able to keep things going in a positive direction, or will the Mountaineers protect their home court for a much-needed signature win? We’ll discuss in our college basketball picks and predictions for Iowa State vs. West Virginia on Wednesday, February 8.

Iowa State vs West Virginia best odds

Iowa State vs West Virginia picks and predictions

It’s been a slow go for the Cyclones on offense this season, as Iowa State has managed just 70.7 PPG to rank No. 202 in the country, which is in the bottom third of the nation. While Iowa State isn’t a bad shooting team, hitting 46.3% from the field, it’s firing just 35.1% from behind the 3-point line.

Iowa State has been winning mostly thanks to defense, allowing just 61.0 PPG to rank No. 13 overall. Six different players are averaging at least 1.0 steals per game, including Tamin Lipsey, who leads the team with 1.9 spg.

However, Iowa State has had its issues on the road. It has dropped four consecutive games away from home, last winning at TCU on January 7, a full calendar month since tasting victory off campus.

West Virginia should use the momentum of an impressive 93-61 rout of Oklahoma last time out to serve as a springboard into this game for a quick start.

The Mountaineers have won three of the past four games at home, including wins over Auburn and TCU, too. 

The home team has won three of the past four games in this series straight up, while winning eight of the past 10 games overall in this series. West Virginia is also a healthy 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings overall.

Look for West Virginia to protect its home court with a hard-fought victory and cover in Morgantown.

My best bet: West Virginia -3.5 (-105 at BetMGM)

Iowa State vs West Virginia spread analysis

The Cyclones have had some ugly numbers against the spread lately, going 1-4 ATS in the past five games overall. In addition, I-State is just 1-4 ATS in the past five games against teams with a winning overall record, too.

In addition, Iowa State has struggled on Wednesday, for whatever that’s worth, as the Cyclones are 5-14 ATS in the past 19 games played on Hump Day.

For the Mountaineers, they’re 4-3 ATS in the past seven games, which isn’t great. However, WVU is brimming with confidence with its best offensive showing since a 96-point effort against Buffalo back on December 18.

The offense has been good for 72 or more points in four consecutive outings, and seven of the past eight games overall. West Virginia has a three-headed monster of Erik Stevenson (14.9 PPG), Tre Mitchell (12.0 PPG), and Joe Toussaint (10.5 PPG) to lead the way on offense, and five players put up 9.1 PPG or more points.

It’s not going to end well for Iowa State on the road in this one. The thing that stands out for me is Iowa State’s awful free-throw percentage — shooting just 66.0%, which is No. 326 in the nation. In a close game, that’s not what you want at the charity stripe.

Iowa State vs West Virginia Over/Under analysis

The free-throw issues for Iowa State are a problem for potential Over bettors, too, while its defense is amazing, ranking No. 13 overall in the country.

The Under is 18-8 in the past 26 games overall for the Cyclones, while going 10-3 in the past 13 games on the road, too.

In addition, Iowa State has gone low in 12 of the past 16 games following a cover, while going 13-5 in the past 18 when following a straight-up win.

While the Over has ruled the day for West Virginia in most trends, it also hurts Over bettors with a dismal 72.0% mark from the free-throw line. Defensively, the Mountaineers are hard on the opposition in terms of 3-point shooting, as West Virginia allows just 31.6% from behind the arc.

The Over has hit in each of the past three meetings in this series, too. However, the trends are all over the board for both sides, and it’s best to avoid the total, and just focus on the side.

Iowa State vs West Virginia betting trend to know

The home team has won eight of the past 10 meetings, and West Virginia is 5-2 ATS in the past seven overall in this series. Find more college basketball betting trends for Iowa State vs. West Virginia.

Iowa State vs West Virginia game info

Iowa State vs West Virginia key injuries

Pages related to this topic