The Iona Gaels enter the NCAAB Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country, as they ride an eight game winning streak that has also seen them go 7-1 ATS. Iona’s high-octane offense has averaged 81.6 points per game during their winning streak and has only once been held under 75 points. Iona may be in for a shootout in their First Round matchup against an Iowa State Cyclones team that averaged over 80 points per game this Thursday.
- Iowa State is 14-2-1 ATS in their past 17 games as favorites in March.
- Iona is 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS in their past five games as underdogs in March.
- OVER is 7-2 in Iowa State’s past nine tournament games.
Iowa State enters their tourney coming off back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and Kansas. Though the Cyclones have not often found themselves in this position, the team is 12-1 SU in their past 13 games coming off back-to-back defeats. Senior Georges Niang did everything he could in those two games with a combined 53 points on 61.1 percent shooting.
If there is one mid-major player that could break into the national spotlight during the tournament it is A.J. English. The guard has averaged 22.4 points with six games of 30-plus points on the season.
Click here for a history of the No. 4 vs. No. 13 matchup.
Iona Gaels vs Iowa State Cyclones Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Iona Gaels will try to spoil to the party and cover the point spread on Thursday; they are 16-15 ATS against the betting line this season, while the Iowa State Cyclones are 15-13-1 ATS. Iona Gaels are 15-15-1 on betting the total; Iowa State Cyclones are 13-15-1.
It's a betting matchup between the No. 163-rated Iowa State Cyclones and the No. 17-ranked Iona Gaels, according to the latest pro hoops power rankings here at Odds Shark.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Iowa State's No. 13-ranked offense, averaging 81.84 PPG, against a Gaels defense that ranks No. 181 at 73.66 PPG. The Cyclones field goal percentage has averaged 50.15% so far, more than the Gaels marksmen have achieved on the year, 45.61% per game.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Iona earned a 79-76 victory over Monmouth on Monday, getting 19 points from A.J. English at Times Union Center.
Iowa State got 31 points from Georges Niang en route to a 79-76 loss at the hands of Iowa State on Thursday at Sprint Center.
- Iona is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games
- Iona is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Iowa State's last 9 games
