What are the current Iowa State March Madness Odds? After the selection Sunday, Iowa State who were the no. 2 seed in the East were dealt to play against South Dakota State (no. 15 seed). They eliminated South Dakota and moved on to the second round where they will play Washington Cougars.
The Cyclones are 27-7 and you can bet on them below. They are currently priced at +1500 to win the whole tournament.
For a team like the Iowa State Cyclones, looking ahead is perfectly fine. In the piece below, we’ll see where the Cyclones stand currently and what their chances are of making it to the NCAA Tournament when March rolls around.
Pre-Season Odds Before March Madness 2024
Coming into the season, the Cyclones were a longshot to win the National Championship at +10000. A lot has changed since then. The Cyclones, who are now #7 in the AP poll, have shot up to +3000 to win the whole thing, pretty solid odds given the field and any single team’s chances of winning.
The Cyclones have seen a steady progression in terms of Iowa sports odds since the season began. Coming into the New Year, they were +6000 and have only continued to rise.
Check how to bet on March Madness in Iowa in 2024 here.
Headed to the Postseason at #⃣7⃣.#Cyclones | #C5C pic.twitter.com/pIJTlcYrmj
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) March 11, 2024
Iowa State March Madness Odds Rise: Big 12 Champions
In a stunning display of dominance, the No. 7 Iowa State Cyclones claimed victory in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship Final, dismantling the No. 1 Houston Cougars with a resounding 69-41 win. Led by standout performances from Keshon Gilbert, who tallied 16 points, and Milan Momcilovic, who contributed 18 points, the Cyclones secured their sixth Championship in as many appearances in the title game. Hason Ward added 13 points to the Cyclones’ commanding victory, showcasing the team’s depth and versatility on both ends of the court.
The Cyclones’ triumph was marked by a relentless second-half surge, turning a narrow 30-23 halftime lead into an insurmountable advantage with an 18-3 run. Thousands of Cyclones fans in attendance erupted in cheers as their team asserted its dominance, leaving little room for doubt about the eventual outcome. Head coach T.J. Otzelberger joined an elite group, becoming the fourth coach to guide Iowa State to a Big 12 Championship, further solidifying the program’s legacy of excellence.
Houston, despite its formidable season, faltered against the Cyclones’ suffocating defense and efficient offense. Star players Jamal Shead and L.J. Cryer struggled to find their rhythm, shooting a combined 5 for 28 from the field. Iowa State’s ability to disrupt Houston’s offensive flow and capitalize on scoring opportunities propelled them to a historic victory, culminating in the largest margin of victory in the history of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship Final.
𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝟭𝟮 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦!#Cyclones | #C5C pic.twitter.com/FlOeXCmTwq
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) March 17, 2024
Best Wins
The Cyclones, playing in the Big 12, had a naturally tough schedule. That said, Iowa State has proven to be more than a solid team. The best win of the season came on January 27. That night, the Cyclones defeated #4 Kansas 79-75 at home.
They crushed rival Iowa back on December 7 to the tune of 90-65 and also beat #3 Houston at home on January 9. Even their losses have been relatively close. They have dropped games to #25 Oklahoma, #19 BYU, and #12 Baylor, the latter of which was by just two points.
Iowa State’s Best Performers
The trio of Keshon Gilbert, Tamin Lipsey, and Milan Momcilovic have been leading the way. Gilbert leads the team with 13.9 points per game and is second in assists at 4.2 per game. Lipsey is second on the team in rebounds per game (5.0) and leads with 5.6 assists per game. Tre King, another solid contributor, leads the team with 5.2 rebounds per game.
Iowa State has been very good in conference play this year, going 7-3 so far. They have been favorites for the most part, going 14-2 in those games. As an underdog, they are just 3-3. Though the offense is ranked 62nd in the nation (79.0 points per game), they are seventh-best in terms of points allowed (62.1 per game). They outscore opponents by nearly 17 points per game (16.9) and have a +389 scoring differential.
Let's Get It.#Cyclones | #C5C pic.twitter.com/T8GF0zPDIj
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) February 13, 2024
Iowa State March Madness Odds: Where Do They Seed?
Iowa have a good history in the Big 12 NCAA tournament, winning five times since its inception (the most of any program). They last won in 2019, beating Kansas 78-66.
Winning the tournament would mean an automatic bid and would only strengthen the already solid resume that Iowa State has. They are currently projected to be a three-seed in the Midwest Region, though that could change depending on how the rest of the schedule goes.
Just gonna take that. #Cyclones | #C5C pic.twitter.com/PBnvJgcvss
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) February 14, 2024
Conclusion
No matter how you slice it, Iowa State is already a contender for the NCAA tournament, despite being an underdog. They are currently an AP Top 10 team with wins over a pair of Top 5 programs. Finishing the conference schedule strongly and having a good run in the conference tournament will only improve those odds.
They won the Big 12 tournament and became the no. 2 seed in the East and are among the two favorites to win the conference. Can they be an underdog to win the tournament? According to our tournament guide they might.
Read also about the preview for NCAA tournament odds for Drake Bulldogs here.