Iowa State vs Kentucky Prediction 3/22/26 College Basketball Picks Today
Kentucky (22-13) vs. Iowa State (28-7)
March 22, 2026 2:45 pm EDT
The Line: Iowa State -4.5; Over/Under: 145.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Kentucky Wildcats and the Iowa State Cyclones meet Sunday in college basketball action from the Enterprise Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Kentucky Wildcats vs. Iowa State Cyclones prediction.
Kentucky Wildcats Recap
The Kentucky Wildcats come into this game off of their 89-84 OT win over Santa Clara last time out.
Wildcats Looking To Build Off Of Thrilling Win
Otega Oweh leads the Wildcats in scoring with 17 PPG along with 4.4 RPG and 2.5 APG while Denzel Aberdeen has 12.5 PPG with 2.4 RPG and a team-high 3.2 APG to lead Kentucky in assists as the only other double-digit scorer for Kentucky so far this season. Collin Chandler has 9.7 PPG with 3 RPG and 2.2 APG while Malachi Moreno has 8.5 PPG with a team-high 6.4 RPG and Mouhamed Diabate has 8.4 PPG with 5.4 RPG this season. As a team, Kentucky is averaging 81.6 PPG on 47% shooting from the field, 34.9% from three and 72.4% from the foul line this season.
Why the Kentucky Wildcats will win
- Kentucky has won each of its last six day games against non-Conference opponents.
- Iowa State has lost four of its last five games against the Southeastern Conference.
Iowa State Cyclones Recap
The Iowa State Cyclones come into this game off of their 108-74 win over Tennessee State last time out.
Cyclones Looking To Avoid Upset
Joshua Jefferson leads the Cyclones with 18.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG and 5 APG while Milan Momcilovic has 17.9 PPG with 3.2 RPG and Tamin Lipsey has 14.2 PPG with 3.8 RPG and 6 APG along with 2.6 SPG. Killyan Toure has 11 PPG with 3.2 RPG and 2.8 APG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Iowa State so far this season. Blake Buchanan has 9.9 PPG with 6.7 RPG as well this season. As a team, Iowa State is averaging 90.4 PPG on 53.2% shooting from the field, 41% from three and 68.9% from the foul line this season.
Why the Iowa State Cyclones will win
- Iowa State has won each of its last 14 games against non-Conference opponents.
- Kentucky has lost each of its last six games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Nine of Kentucky’s last 10 games against the Big 12 Conference at neutral venues have produced a total of 144 or fewer points.
- Five of Iowa State’s last six games against non-Conference opponents at neutral venues have produced a total of 159+ points.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Iowa State Cyclones Prediction
I’m on Iowa State here. I know a lot of folks are mentioning the Joshua Jefferson injury from the opening round and that’s not nothing, but there’s a lot of depth for this Iowa State team that I think they take the next man up mentality. Kentucky was a team I wasn’t all that impressed with this season and the bottom line is they were really lucky to get that win against Santa Clara and to even be here and I think Iowa State delivers a reality check to Big Blue here. Give me Iowa State.
