The Houston Cougars will take on the Iowa State Cyclones on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 9:00 PM ET. The game will be held at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA. This is a conference game in the Big 12, and it will be shown on ESPN.
The Cyclones are favored by 2.5 points with a moneyline of -140. The Cougars, the underdogs, have a moneyline of +111. The over/under for the game is set at 134.5 points. Both teams are ranked in the top 5, with Houston at #3 and Iowa State at #5, promising a competitive game.
Houston Cougars Team Preview
The Houston Cougars have had a strong season with a 23-2 record. They rank #3 in the AP poll and are part of the Big 12 conference. Their away record stands at 7-1, showing they can win on the road.
Recent performances have been positive for the Cougars. They won their last three games, defeating Kansas State 78-64, Utah 66-52, and BYU 77-66. Emanuel Sharp has been a standout player, scoring 27 points against Utah and 23 against Kansas State.
Offensively, the Cougars score 78.3 points per game. They have a field goal percentage of 45.3 and make 8.8 three-pointers per game. On defense, they achieve 8.3 steals and 3.8 blocks per game, keeping opponents in check.
Iowa State Cyclones Team Preview
The Iowa State Cyclones have had a strong season so far. They are ranked #5 in the AP poll and are part of the Big 12 conference. With a 22-3 record and an unbeaten 17-0 at home, they have shown their strength on their home court.
In their recent games, the Cyclones have had a mixed performance. They won against Kansas Jayhawks by 18 points with Milan Momcilovic scoring 18 points. However, they faced a setback against TCU Horned Frogs, losing by 7 points.
Offensively, the Cyclones average 84.2 points per game, ranking them 35th. They have a field goal percentage of 50.6, which is 13th in the nation. On the defensive side, they have areas to improve, such as their steals and blocks per game.
Betting Prediction
Both Houston and Iowa State have been under the total in their recent games. Houston has not gone over in their last 10 games, with a 3-7 over/under record. Iowa State also has a 2-8 over/under record in their last 10, indicating a trend toward lower-scoring games.
Houston’s offense averages 78.3 points per game, while Iowa State scores 84.2 points per game. However, both teams play at a slower pace, with Iowa State at 67.1 possessions per game and Houston at 63.6. This slower pace often leads to fewer scoring opportunities, which can keep the total low.
Both teams also have solid defensive stats, which help keep opposing scores down. Houston allows few turnovers, and Iowa State averages 9 steals per game. These factors suggest a game that might not reach the projected total.
- Pick: Under 134.5
