The Baylor Bears take on the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, Iowa. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Iowa State is favored by 15 points on the spread with a moneyline of -1600. The total is set at 151.5 points.
Here’s my Baylor vs. Iowa State prediction and college basketball picks for February 7, 2026.
Baylor vs Iowa State Prediction
My Pick: Iowa State 1H ATS
My Baylor vs Iowa State best bet is on the Cyclones to cover the spread in the first half. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Baylor vs. Iowa State Odds
| Baylor Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+15 -110 | 151.5 -110o / -110u | +900 |
| Iowa State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-15 -110 | 151.5 -110o / -110u | -1600 |
- Baylor vs Iowa State spread: Iowa State -15
- Baylor vs Iowa State over/under: 151.5
- Baylor vs Iowa State moneyline: Baylor +900, Iowa State -1600
Baylor vs Iowa State College Basketball Betting Preview
Baylor Basketball
After a spectacular 10-2 start to its 2026 campaign, Baylor has been atrocious in Big 12 play, winning just three of its first 10 matchups.
While the Bears are coming off consecutive victories over West Virginia and Colorado, Scott Drew’s bunch will have its hands full on Saturday night in Ames.
If Baylor is to make its 14th NCAA Tournament in the Drew era, it has a lot of work to do in conference play to improve its 13-9 overall record.
While the Bears have the odds stacked against them with five top-25 ranked opponents to close the regular season, each will be an opportunity for Baylor to pick up a Quad 1 victory.
Sophomore guard Cameron Carr leads the way for a Baylor offense scoring 84 points per game. The offense ranks inside the top 50 in the country in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
Carr has been one of the biggest surprises in the offseason, proving to be one of the most underrated talents in the transfer portal after playing just 10 minutes per game for Tennessee last season. The 6-foot-5 guard is averaging just shy of 20 points per game, while also posting six rebounds and 2.5 assists.
Freshman Tounde Yessoufou has also excelled on the offensive end of the floor, posting over 17 points per game, along with six rebounds. Yessoufou was a top-10 freshman recruit heading into the season and has certainly lived up to the hype so far.
While the Bears have been elite offensively, the same can't be said about the other end of the floor. Baylor’s defense is allowing upwards of 75 points per game, a very surprising number for Drew, who's widely considered to be a defensive mastermind.
Iowa State Basketball
Iowa State enters Saturday’s Big 12 battle with a 20-2 overall record. After a slight skid that derailed a 16-0 start, T.J. Otzelberger’s bunch has won four consecutive games by an average of 27 points.
The seventh-ranked Cyclones will be pleased to return to the comfort of their home floor at Hilton Coliseum, with six days of rest since their road victory at Kansas State.
While Otzelberger is largely praised for his prowess as a defensive-minded head coach, Iowa State has been spectacular on the offensive end of the floor, posting over 85 points per game this season.
Iowa State boasts a ton of experience with senior point guard Tamin Lipsey leading an offense that can score both inside the lane and from beyond the arc. The Cyclones' frontcourt features two extremely versatile forwards in Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson.
Both forwards are very comfortable with the ball in their hands and are able to generate offense from anywhere on the floor. Momcilovic leads the Cyclones in scoring, posting nearly 19 points per game. The 6-foot-8 junior is one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, and thus a matchup nightmare for defenses.
The same can be said of Jefferson, whose 6-foot-10 frame and ability to score from the perimeter create havoc for defenses.
Lipsey is the spark in a well-oiled Cyclones offense that ranks sixth nationally in efficiency, according to KenPom. Lipsey’s near six-assist per game figures rank in the top 40 in the country.
The success of head coach Otzelberger’s defensive schemes made him a big-time hire for Iowa State prior to the 2022 season.
The Cyclones' head coach loves to implement a full-court press with heavy ball pressure, largely contributing to a defense that ranks amongst the best in forced turnover rate. Otzelberger’s “no middle” defense prevents ball-handlers from accessing the middle of the paint, forcing them to the sideline.
Lipsey is at the heart of Otzelberger’s defense and is one of the best on-ball defenders in the entire country.
Given its versatility on offense, defensive prowess and its ability to capitalize in transition, Iowa State is a top-tier contender to cut down the nets in March.
Baylor vs. Iowa State Betting Analysis
Even before the Otzelberger era at Iowa State, Hilton Coliseum was one of the most difficult venues to win at.
Iowa State is arguably the most complete team in the country, featuring top-tier play on both ends of the floor. Given the experience and versatility boasted by this Cyclones bunch, leaving Ames with an outright road victory is an uphill battle — even for the likes of Arizona, Houston and some of the other top Big 12 dogs.
While the Bears head into this duel with some slight momentum coming off consecutive victories, there's no world where I can fade the Cyclones in this spot.
I've had a lot of success this season backing Iowa State at home to come out hot in the first 20 minutes of the game. I feel comfortable going “back to the well” on the first-half system, and I'll be backing the Cyclones to cover their first-half spread.
My Pick: Iowa State 1H ATS
