Iowa State vs Miami Predictions, Odds, Picks

• The Iowa State Cyclones beat the Wisconsin Badgers 54-49 in the Second Round.
• The Miami Hurricanes beat the Auburn Tigers 79-61 in the Second Round.
• Iowa State beat Miami 73-56 the one time they played each other.

Iowa State Cyclones vs Miami Hurricanes Odds

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook

The Iowa State Cyclones will battle the Miami Hurricanes in this Sweet 16 game. These two teams faced each other once before in 2016, and Iowa State won 73-56.

The Iowa State Cyclones had an odd regular season. They dominated in non-conference play and went 15-0 but really struggled in the challenging Big 12. They went 7-12 in conference play and were on a four-game losing streak at one point. Their non-conference record got them a spot in March Madness, and they have proven why they deserved it.

Iowa State went up against the LSU Tigers in the First Round. It was a low-scoring battle, and the Cyclones led 24-19 at the half. The Cyclones won 59-54 behind Tyrese Hunter and Izaiah Brockington’s combined 42 points. Tyrese Hunter could not be stopped from deep and went 7-11 from behind the three-point line.

The Cyclones took on the tough Wisconsin Badgers in the Second Round. This was also a low-scoring game with only 103 combined points. Iowa State was victorious 54-49. Gabe Kalscheur led Iowa State in scoring with 22 points. He went 10-19 from the field.

These first two games showed that Iowa State does not have a great offense. However, they have a top-20 defense and the third-best in the Big 12.

The Miami Hurricanes went under the radar for most of the season. They played well against easier non-conference opponents but struggled in ACC play.

The Hurricanes took on the USC Trojans in the First Round. They got off to a quick lead and led 31-20 at the half. However, USC fought back in the second half and almost sent this game to overtime. Miami pulled out a 68-66 win in an exciting First Round battle. Guard Isaiah Wong had a huge game and had 22 points in 24 minutes. Wong got to the free throw line a lot and went 8-9.

Miami faced the 2-seed Auburn Tigers in the Second Round. The game was close at halftime, and Miami had a 33-32 lead. However, the Hurricanes pulled away in the second half and won 79-61. Isaiah Wong led all scorers with 21 points. He also had six rebounds.

Miami scores almost 75 points a game but is going up against an Iowa State squad with a great defense. I believe in the philosophy of ‘Defense wins championships’, so I am picking Iowa State to win in what will likely be another low-scoring battle.

Pick:

Iowa State beats Miami 62-60. Iowa State covers, Over 133.5 points.

Head-to-Head: Iowa State Cyclones vs Miami Hurricanes

Why Might the Iowa State Cyclones Win?

The Iowa State Cyclones are the underdogs but have a better defense than Miami. The Cyclones need to focus on protecting the rim and not turning the ball over to win this game.

Iowa State is facing a Miami team that knows how to score; Miami scores almost 75 points a game and has four players averaging ten points or more. However, Miami is a guard-heavy team, and their four leading scorers are guards. The Cyclones have to stop those guards from scoring at the rim. They will force them to pass outside if they cannot score at the hoop.

The Cyclones turn the ball over a lot. They average 13.8 turnovers a game and have three players averaging two or more turnovers. The Cyclones need to be smarter on offense and give the ball up less. If they do, they will give themselves more scoring opportunities.

Take a look at NCAA tournament predictions and picks!

Why Might the Miami Hurricanes Win?

Miami is the favorite to win this game but will need to figure out how to score on this tough Iowa State defense. The Hurricanes need to look for the extra pass and hit three-pointers.

The Hurricanes pass the ball well. They average 14.0 assists a game, and their best passer, Charlie Moore, averages 4.6 assists. They need to pass even more this game and look for the extra man.

The Hurricanes shoot the ball well from deep. They hit 35.3% of their three-pointers. They need to continue hitting them in this game.

See what’s the best online sportsbook for payouts before you sign up!

Cyclones Key Player: (G) Gabe Kalscheur

Gabe Kalscheur only scored four points in the First Round. He came up big in the Second Round and had 22 points in 34 minutes.

Kalscheur has the hot hand and needs to keep on getting good shots. Iowa State often struggles to score, so Kalscheur will be heavily depended on.

Hurricanes Key Player: (G) Isaiah Wong

Isaiah Wong is coming off a 21-point performance against the Auburn Tigers. He went 8-18 from the field and 5-5 from the free throw line in that game.

Wong needs to continue finding ways to score. If he does, Miami will be in a good position.

How to Watch Iowa State Cyclones vs Miami Hurricanes