The UCF Knights take on the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, Iowa. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
Iowa State is favored by 13.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -1200. The total is set at 156.5 points.
Here’s my UCF vs. Iowa State predictions and college basketball picks for January 20, 2026.
UCF vs Iowa State Prediction
My Pick: Iowa State -13.5
My UCF vs Iowa State best bet is on the Cyclones to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
UCF vs. Iowa State Odds
| UCF Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+13.5 -118 | 156.5 -115 / -105 | +750 |
| Iowa State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-13.5 -102 | 156.5 -115 / -105 | -1200 |
- UCF vs Iowa State spread: Iowa State -13.5
- UCF vs Iowa State over/under: 156.5 points
- UCF vs Iowa State moneyline: UCF +750, Iowa State -1200
UCF vs Iowa State College Basketball Betting Preview
UCF Basketball
UCF is 14-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12 and is coming off a hard-fought 84-77 loss to Arizona.
This UCF team is excellent at crashing the glass, especially on the offensive end, where it ranks 19th nationally with a 37.5% offensive rebounding rate.
Arizona is one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the country, and it still allowed UCF to grab 14 offensive boards.
Themus Fulks is flat-out awesome. I talked about him in my UCF vs. Arizona preview and thought Jaden Bradley would slow him down — and boy, was I wrong. Fulks posted 30 points, eight assists, five rebounds and two steals against the No. 1 team in the country.
He’s incredibly crafty using and rejecting ball screens. Once Fulks gains any type of downhill angle, he uses his leverage to draw extra defenders while keeping his eyes up to find Riley Kugel or Jordan Burks.
Fulks is averaging 16 points and 11 assists over his last three games and will look to continue serving as UCF’s primary playmaker.
Iowa State Basketball
Iowa State started 16-0, but it's now dropped two straight games and is searching for answers.
The Clones have allowed just 65 points per game on the season, but they're giving up 81.5 points per game during their two-game losing streak.
The Cyclones are one of the best teams in the country at forcing turnovers, yet in both losses — to Cincinnati and Kansas — opponents posted a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Speaking of turnovers, Iowa State has generally done a solid job taking care of the ball this season, except over its last two games, when opponents have scored 37 points off giveaways.
Joshua Jefferson is my key for Iowa State in this matchup. Jefferson averages 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists, which are strong numbers across the board. However, he’s also been a turnover machine, averaging 3.7 turnovers over his last 10 games.
Lastly, Jefferson is shooting 49% from the field on the season, but that number drops to just 33% in conference play.
If Iowa State wants to snap this skid, Jefferson has to get back on track.
UCF vs. Iowa State Betting Analysis
Iowa State is coming back home after suffering back-to-back road losses, and I think that’s exactly what it needs.
Sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic is coming off a monster game, as he scored 34 points while going 8-of-14 from 3. That now makes it three games this season in which he’s knocked down eight triples.
UCF has proven me wrong the last two times I’ve picked against it, but this time, it's on the road and facing a hungry Iowa State team.
Give me the Cyclones to bounce back in a big way.
My Pick: Iowa State -13.5
