The Iowa State Cyclones head to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Utes on Tuesday night in a Big 12 conference basketball showdown. Iowa State enters as one of the more successful teams in the country with a 23-4 record and strong offensive numbers, while Utah has struggled to a 10-17 mark and looks to defend its home court at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Here, I break downt his matchup in the Big 12 and bring you my Iowa State vs Utah prediction against the spread.
Our Iowa State vs Utah Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 4 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Iowa State Cyclones @ Utah Utes
- Date & Time: Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 9:00 PM ET
- Venue: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Broadcast: FS1
Key Storylines
- Iowa State has been one of the top offensive teams in the nation this season, averaging over 83 points per game and shooting above .500 from the field overall, creating a clear scoring edge over most opponents.
- Utah’s 10-17 record belies a team capable of competitive stretches at home, but recent conference play has been challenging with losses stacking up. The Utes are 2-12 in the Big 12 so far this year and will try to pull off a huge upset here.
Key Players
Utah Utes
- Terrence Brown: A leading scorer for Utah, Brown has consistently put points on the board and remains one of the Utes’ primary offensive threats. He needs to be effective early to keep Utah competitive.
- Keanu Dawes: Solid on the glass and contributing scoring as well, Dawes helps Utah end possessions successfully and offers rebounding strength that can limit second‑chance points for Iowa State.
Iowa State Cyclones
- Milan Momcilovic: The Cyclones have balanced scoring, with multiple players capable of double‑digit production. Momcilovic is shooting over 50% for the season and he averages 17.5 points per game for the season.
- Joshua Jefferson: Iowa State’s rebounding and assists leader for the season, Jefferson makes winning plays in a number of different ways and will try to help the Cyclones rebound from their road loss to BYU.
Stat Comparison
| Statistic | Iowa State | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 83.1 | 75.6 |
| Points allowed per game | 65.1 | 78.4 |
| Team Field Goal % | 50% | 45% |
| Rebounds Per Game | 36.1 | 34.5 |
| Assists Per Game | 17.9 | 13.8 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- This is the first matchup of the season between the Utes and Cyclones.
- Iowa State is 15-11-1 against the spread going into this matchup.
- Utah is 14-13 against the spread entering Tuesday’s action.
Iowa State vs Utah Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
