The No. 3 Houston Cougars (22-3) and the No. 10 Iowa State Cyclones (20-5) link up in a Big 12 matchup on Monday. The Cyclones own a narrow 4-3 all-time edge over the Cougars, including a three-game win streak. On Jan. 9, Iowa State defeated Houston 57-53 at Hilton Coliseum. Both teams are elite defensively with the Cougars ranking first nationally in opponent points per game (55) and the Cyclones ranking seventh (62.5).

Tipoff from the Fertitta Center in Houston is set for 9 p.m. ET. The Cougars are 9-point favorites in the latest Iowa State vs. Houston odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 131.5. Before making any Houston vs. Iowa State picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 16 of the 2023-24 season on a 136-89 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $2,500 for $100 players. It is also off to a sizzling 25-13 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Iowa State vs. Houston and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Houston vs. Iowa State:

  • Iowa State vs. Houston spread: Cougars -9
  • Iowa State vs. Houston over/under: 131.5 points
  • Iowa State vs. Houston money line: Cougars -458, Cyclones +349
  • HOU: Houston has hit the 1H ML in 30 of its last 36 games
  • ISU: Iowa State is 18-7 ATS this season 
  • Iowa State vs. Houston picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why Iowa State can cover

Freshman forward Milan Momcilovic (6-foot-8) is a lengthy scoring presence in the frontcourt. The Wisconsin native logs 12 points, 3.2 rebounds and makes 38% of his 3-point attempts. On Feb. 6, he totaled 13 points and five rebounds.

Senior guard Curtis Jones is a force coming off the bench. He is a capable shooter on the perimeter with a knack for piling up steals. The Minnesota native averages 10.1 points, 2.2 assists and 1.7 steals per contest. He’s scored in double figures in eight straight games. In his last game, Jones dropped 12 points and two assists. See which team to pick here.

Why Houston can cover

Senior guard LJ Cryer excels as the No. 1 offensive option in the backcourt. Cryer is an elite 3-point shooter and scores off the dribble with ease. The Texas native averages a team-high 15.3 points and shoots 38.5% from beyond the arc. In his last outing, Cryer dropped 26 points and went 6-of-9 from three.

Senior guard Jamal Shead is another strong playmaker for Houston. Shead provides this group with a hard-nosed defender with great court vision as a playmaker. He leads the team in assists (5.8) with 12.8 points per contest. On Feb. 17 against Texas, Shead notched 16 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and six steals. See which team to pick here.

How to make Houston vs. Iowa State picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 135 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time. You can see the picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Iowa State vs. Houston, and which side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 25-13 roll on top-ranked college basketball spread picks