The Iowa State Cyclones ended the season as one of the hottest teams in the country, winning the Big 12 Tournament with a dominant performance against Houston. South Dakota State is playing very well in their own right, winning their last eight games including the Summit League Tournament.
Summit League regular season champs as well, South Dakota State went 16-14-1 against the spread and posted a solid overall record at 22-12. The Jackrabbits have only played two high-major opponents all season, though, losing to Kansas State and UCF. Iowa State was the sixth-best spread bet in college basketball this season, covering 69.7% of matchups and going 23-10-1 against the spread.
Here’s everything you need to know about betting on Iowa State vs. South Dakota State in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, including updated odds, trends and our prediction for this first-round game on Thursday at 7:35 p.m. on truTV.
Iowa State vs. South Dakota State odds
Here are the latest college basketball betting odds for Iowa State vs. South Dakota State from the best online sports betting sites in the U.S.
The Cyclones are 15-plus point spread favorites, and with a total under 140 points, oddsmakers don’t expect this matchup to be very high-scoring. The Jackrabbits carry substantial moneyline value but face a challenge unlike they have seen all season against Iowa State.
Check and bet: College basketball odds | March Madness betting sites | Latest sportsbook promos and bonuses | North Carolina sportsbook bonuses
Three betting trends to watch
- Iowa State has won 11 of their last 13 games, covering the spread nine times. Note that all nine spread covers came in victories.
- South Dakota State has only covered the spread twice in their 12 losses this season.
- The Cyclones and Jackrabbits have combined to hit the UNDER in nine of their last 10 games.
March Madness Central: Odds, full TV schedule and betting promos for March Madness
Iowa State Cyclones key players
- Keshon Gilbert leads the Cyclones in scoring with 13.8 PPG, ranks third in rebounding with 4.5 RPG and is second in assists with 4.3 APG. He is a menace on defense and averages 1.9 steals per game. He has been playing his best basketball at the end of the season, scoring 12-plus points over his last four games and making two threes in each of his last two games.
- Tamin Lipsey is just behind Gilbert in scoring, averaging 12.3 PPG. He is second in rebounds with 4.7 RPG and leads the team in assists with 4.9 APG. The sophomore guard leads the team in steals with 2.8 per game, ranking fourth in the country.
- Milan Momcilovic is a big reason the Cyclones are peaking at the end of the season, as the freshman has improved significantly throughout the year. He is third on the team in scoring with 11.0 PPG and gives the Cyclones a pick-and-pop threat, shooting 35.9% from three and making 56 of them this season.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits key players
- Zeke Mayo is a bucket-getter, the leading scorer with 18.8 PPG and the star of the Jackrabbits team. The junior guard does more than just score, though. He ranks second on the team with 5.8 rebounds per game and leads with 3.5 assists per night. He has ended the season playing at a high level, scoring 19-plus points in seven of his last 10 games.
- William Kyle III is an excellent scoring threat inside. He is second on the team in points, averaging 13.1 PPG. The sophomore forward leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per game and is an old-school big who does all his damage inside, with only one three-point attempt this season. He does not need an outside shot, though, as he shoots 62.4% from the field, mostly finishing around the rim. He is a solid defender, too, leading the team with 1.6 blocks per game.
- Luke Appel is the other forward in the frontcourt and is a great contrast to what Kyle III gives. Appel is fourth in scoring with 11.7 PPG and can score at three levels. He leads the team shooting 43.6% from three and has had a solid end to the season. The senior forward scored double-figures in six straight games and was the leading scorer for South Dakota State in two of their three conference tournament games.
Make your picks: Best March Madness upset picks | Who will win 2024 March Madness? | 2024 March Madness odds
Best individual matchup: Zeke Mayo vs. Tamin Lipsey
The Jackrabbits’ top scorer faces a tall task against the Cyclones’ defensive stopper. Lipsey averages 2.8 steals per game, ranking him among the top five in the nation. Mayo averages three turnovers a game and has three or more in each of the Jackrabbits’ last four losses. If Lipsey can lock Mayo down and force turnovers, South Dakota State won’t have a chance to pull off an upset.
Iowa State vs. South Dakota State stat to know
South Dakota State played the 235th-ranked strength of schedule according KenPom and lost each of its two matchups this season against high major opponents. Those two opponents were Kansas State and UCF, against whom Iowa State had a 3-1 record.
March Madness betting previews: New Mexico vs. Clemson | Michigan State vs. Mississippi State | Texas Tech vs. NC Stat odds | Oregon vs. South Carolina | Vermont vs. Duke | Yale vs. Auburn | Kansas vs. Samford | Texas A&M vs. Nebraska | Dayton vs. Nevada | Utah State vs. TCU | Baylor vs. Colgate | Kentucky vs. Oakland | BYU vs. Duquesne | Houston vs. Longwood
Iowa State vs. South Dakota State prediction: Iowa State too much for SDSU
The Cyclones talent level will be something the Jackrabbits have not faced all season. Iowa State should control this matchup from start to finish and cruise comfortably into the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Prediction: Iowa State 75, South Dakota State 57. Iowa State (-16.5) covers the spread, with the game going UNDER the total (135.5).