Iowa State Cyclones vs Cincinnati Bearcats Prediction - 1/17/2026
Updated January 16, 2026
Updated January 16, 2026
This Saturday’s Big 12 basketball contest between the Iowa State Cyclones and Cincinnati Bearcats will be a big test for the visiting team at Fifth Third Arena. The Cyclones arrive with one of the country’s top records and an offense that has torched opponents all season. They will try to bounce back after taking their first loss of the season to Kansas. Cincinnati has struggled to find consistency in conference play but has solid home numbers and the potential to pull an upset. Before tip-off from Ohio, keep reading to get my Iowa State vs Cincinnati prediction.
Pick: | Iowa State -6.5 ATS PRO |
Confidence: | 3/5 |
Score Projection: Iowa State 74 – Cincinnati 66 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Iowa State 75%, Cincinnati 25% ATS PRO
Iowa State’s balance of elite offensive efficiency and toughness in key moments sets the Cyclones up as a road favorite poised to handle Cincinnati’s home-court advantage. While the Bearcats have shown fight in recent games, the Cyclones’ talent advantage and statistical profile point toward a clear victory. I am laying the points with Iowa State in this matchup and recommend you do the same.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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