Iowa State vs. Pittsburgh Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round First Round

The No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region bracket, the Iowa State Cyclones (19-13), and the No. 11 seed Pittsburgh Panthers (23-11) meet in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at Greensboro Coliseum, starting at 3:10 PM. Iowa State is a 4.5-point favorite in the matchup, which airs on truTV. The matchup’s point total is set at 131.5.

Iowa State vs. Pittsburgh Odds

• Iowa State odds to win: -199
• Pittsburgh odds to win: +165
• Spread: Iowa State (-4.5)
• Total: 131.5

Iowa State vs. Pittsburgh Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
• Time: 3:10 PM ET
• TV: truTV
• Where: Greensboro, North Carolina
• Venue: Greensboro Coliseum

Who Will Win Iowa State vs. Pittsburgh?

Iowa State and Pittsburgh Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

When it has played as at least 4.5-point favorites this season, Iowa State is 6-7 against the spread.

Pittsburgh has a 7-3 record against the spread when an underdog by 4.5 points or more this season.

The Cyclones and Panthers average 12.5 more points between them than the over/under of 131.5 for this matchup.

Opponents of these teams have averaged a combined 132.9 points per game, 1.4 more than the point total in this matchup.

Iowa State’s average point total in outings this season is 131.2, 0.3 points below the over/under in this game.

Panthers games this year have averaged an over/under of 145.8 points, 14.3 more than the point total in this matchup.

The Cyclones’ ATS record is 16-16-0 this season.

The Panthers’ ATS record is 23-11-0 this season.

Iowa State Stats & Insights

Iowa State has a +182 scoring differential, topping opponents by 5.6 points per game. It is putting up 68.4 points per game to rank 267th in college basketball and is allowing 62.8 per contest to rank 22nd in college basketball.

Iowa State is 245th in the nation at 30.7 rebounds per game. That’s 3.1 more than the 27.6 its opponents average.

The Cyclones knock down 6.5 three-pointers per game (279th in college basketball) while shooting 33.9% from deep (193rd in college basketball). They are making 1.2 fewer threes per contest than their opponents, who drain 7.7 per game while shooting 33.8%.

Iowa State ranks 212th in college basketball with 92.4 points scored per 100 possessions, and 27th in college basketball defensively with 84.7 points conceded per 100 possessions.

At home, the Cyclones are scoring 8.5 more points per game (72) than they are on the road (63.5).

Pittsburgh Stats & Insights

Pittsburgh outscores opponents by 5.5 points per game (posting 75.6 points per game, 81st in college basketball, and conceding 70.1 per outing, 176th in college basketball) and has a +187 scoring differential.

Pittsburgh wins the rebound battle by 1.4 boards on average. It collects 33 rebounds per game, 98th in college basketball, while its opponents pull down 31.6.

Pittsburgh knocks down 9.2 three-pointers per game (25th in college basketball) while shooting 36.2% from beyond the arc (68th in college basketball). It is making 1.5 more threes than its opponents, who drain 7.7 per game at 33.2%.

Pittsburgh ranks 51st in college basketball with 98.9 points scored per 100 possessions, and 183rd defensively with 91.7 points conceded per 100 possessions.

At home the Panthers are scoring 77.8 points per game, 2.4 more than they are averaging on the road (75.4).

Iowa State Key Players to Watch

The Cyclones scoring leader is Jaren Holmes, who averages 13.4 per contest to go with 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

Caleb Grill leads Iowa State in rebounding, averaging four per game, while Tamin Lipsey leads the team in assists, distributing an average of 4.5 in each contest.

The Cyclones get the most three-point shooting production out of Gabe Kalscheur, who knocks down 2.3 threes per game.

The Iowa State steals leader is Lipsey, who averages 2.2 takeaways per game, while its blocks leader is Osun Osunniyi, who compiles 1.1 rejections per contest.

Pittsburgh Key Players to Watch

The Panthers’ leader in scoring and rebounding is Blake Hinson with 15.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Nelly Cummings’ assist statline paces Pittsburgh; he racks up 4.8 assists per game.

Hinson is dependable from deep and leads the Panthers with 2.7 made threes per game.

Pittsburgh’s leader in steals is Jamarius Burton with 0.9 per game, and its leader in blocks is Fede Federiko with 1.7 per game.

Iowa State vs. Pittsburgh Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  Pittsburgh (+4.5)
  

• Pick OU:

  Over (131.5)
  

• Prediction:
  Iowa State 71, Pittsburgh 68

How to Bet on Iowa State vs. Pittsburgh

And for more CBB game previews, NCAA basketball picks or even how to bet on college basketball check out the latest NCAAB lines on Betsperts.