Houston vs. Iowa State prediction, odds, time: 2026 college basketball picks from proven model

A top-5 showdown on Monday’s college basketball schedule has the Houston Cougars visiting the Iowa State Cyclones. The No. 3 Cougars (23-2, 11-1 Big 12) are riding a six-game win streak, sit atop the Big 12 standings and knocked off Kansas State, 78-64, on Saturday. No. 5 Iowa State (22-3, 9-3) has won six of its last seven and is coming off a double-digit Saturday win over No. 9 Kansas. These programs have split four all-time meetings.

Tipoff is at 9 p.m. ET from the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Cougars have won the last two matchups. The Cyclones are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Iowa State vs. Houston odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 134.5. Before making any Houston vs. Iowa State picks, check out the men’s college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

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The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times and it enters Week 15 on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on an 11-5 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.

Now, the model has simulated Iowa State vs. Houston 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted men’s college basketball picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several men’s college basketball odds and men’s college basketball betting lines for Houston vs. Iowa State:

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How to make Houston vs. Iowa State picks

SportsLine’s model has simulated Iowa State vs. Houston 10,000 times and is going Over on the total (134.5 points). Houston takes its offense to another level when facing a ranked opponent as the Over is 4-2 in Cougars games versus ranked squads. The Coogs offense, overall, is among the most efficient in the nation as no team commits fewer turnovers, which leads to more scoring opportunities.

As for ISU, there are few better shooting teams in all of college basketball. The Cyclones rank seventh 3-point percentage and 13th in field goal percentage, which allows it to possess the No. 12 offensive rating in the nation. With the potency of two proficient offenses, each team is forecasted to allow seven or more points than what it gives up on average. Thus, the Over hits with plenty of points to spare with simulations calling for 146 combined points. The total is eclipsed 80% of the time.

The model also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Houston vs. Iowa State, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Iowa State vs. Houston spread to back, all from the advanced model that has simulated this game 10,000 times, and find out.