#4 Auburn Vs #5 Iowa State: NCAA Basketball Predictions, Odds & Best Bets

Matchup Information – Auburn vs Iowa State

Venue & Location: Lahaina Civic Center (Maui, HI)

Date: Monday, November 25th, 2024

Tip Off: 9:00pm Eastern

Broadcast: ESPNU

The Auburn Tigers and Iowa State Cyclones both rank in the Top 5 currently, and meet tonight on the Islands for the first round of the Maui Invitational. This tournament is full of hungry teams and 4 ranked in the Top 10 with UConn and North Carolina also being in the field. Rounded out by Dayton, Memphis, Colorado and Michigan State, we are in for a thriller in Hawaii.

Let’s get right into it as the Bruce Pearl leads his undefeated Tigers against the scrappy Cyclones of Iowa State.

The Tigers are 4-0 this season, with​ a big win over Houston​ іn the Toyota Center. While​ іt wasn’t necessarily​ a true road game,​ іt was​ іn the same city​ as the Cougars, but the Tigers showed them who the real Big Cat is. They went​ оn​ tо route Kent State and North Alabama​ at home, but now travel​ tо the Islands​ tо face the Cyclones​ іn this tough first matchup.

The Cyclones are built on defense, and they’ve played that way so far this season. Iowa State is 3-0, allowing just 50.7 points per contest. However, this will be their first game away from Ames. Can they rally to knock off the high flying Tigers? Or will battle tested Tigers take down Iowa State and send them to the loser’s bracket in Maui?

#4 Auburn Tigers Vs #5 Iowa State Cyclones: Maui Invitational First Round

Spread

• Auburn -4 (-115)
• Iowa State +4 (-105)

Money Line

• Auburn -205
• Iowa State +175

Total

• Over 145 (-110)
• Under 145 (-110)

Top 5 Ranked Tigers And Cyclones Meet In Maui

The Iowa State Cyclones will look to slow this ball game down. Vegas certainly thinks so as this under continues to trickle down as we get closer to tip. The Cyclones love defense, they know it wins them games, and against Auburn, the 2nd overall offensive team and 1st in the nation in eFG%, Iowa State will certainly limit the Tigers possessions.

When they do have the ball, I expect the Cyclones to make their life hell on Earth. Iowa State ranks 4th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency and are Top 15 in all other defensive stats, let me break it down.

Iowa State Defense

• Adj Def Eff: 4th
• eFG% Def: 14th
• TO%: 1st
• OR Rate: 7th
• FT Rate: 12th

They do all the little things well. The Cyclones contest shots, they block out, clean up the glass, force turnovers, keep teams off the line, it’s absolutely beautiful to watch. They rank 312th in 3P Rate defense, giving up tons of 3s, but ranking 16th in 3P% Defense, holding opponents to less than 26% from deep. Defense wins Championships, and Iowa State is certainly a staple of that phrase this season.

I trust them to hold the ball offensively, slowing this game down, and winning it on the defensive end. Auburn will want to run and shoot 3s, which will certainly be contested by the Cyclones. Auburn is a team that struggles to get to the free throw line, and I expect points to be at a premium in this matchup. I lean with the under, but instead I will take the underdog in what should be a low scoring game.

#4 Auburn Tigers Vs #5 Iowa State Best Bets

Auburn vs Iowa State Prediction: Iowa State Wins, Under 145

Best Bets: Iowa State +4.5 (-110) Bovada

Gimme the dawg to start things off in Maui. Like I mentioned, this game is probably going to go under. Both of these defenses are Top 10 in the nation, and I trust the Cyclones to focus on slowing things down offensively. You can’t score if you don’t have the ball, and in a new gym, I do think these teams start out a little slow.

The Cyclones are built on tons of returning starters who have experience and veteran leadership. They’ve bought in to this style of play, and are hungry to pull off a win in their first real matchup of the season.