Iowa State vs. Lipscomb odds, March Madness predictions: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model

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The 14th-seeded Lipscomb Bisons will battle the third-seeded Iowa State Cyclones in a South Regional first-round matchup in the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon. The Bisons (25-9), who are making their second NCAA Tournament appearance, will look to become the first Atlantic Sun team to advance to the second round since Liberty in 2019. The Cyclones (24-9), who are making their 24th NCAA Tournament appearance, advanced to the Sweet 16 last year for the seventh time in program history. Injuries have hurt the Cyclones as senior guard Keshon Gilbert has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a muscle strain, while junior guard Tamin Lipsey is expected to play despite dealing with a groin injury.

Tip-off from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is set for 1:30 p.m. ET. Iowa State won the only meeting between the teams, an 81-64 decision at Ames, Iowa, on Dec. 21, 2011. Iowa State is a 14.5-point favorite in the latest Lipscomb vs. Iowa State odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 143.5. Before making any Lipscomb vs. Iowa State picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The model simulates every Division 1 college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2025 NCAA Tournament on a 228-166 roll (+2025) on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to 2023. This model has also produced brackets that have beaten over 91% of CBS Sports entries in four of the last six tournaments and nailed 24 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds. Anyone following could have seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Lipscomb vs. Iowa State and just locked in its March Madness predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the college basketball odds and lines for Iowa State vs. Lipscomb:

Iowa State vs. Lipscomb spread: Iowa State -14.5
Iowa State vs. Lipscomb over/under: 143.5 points
Iowa State vs. Lipscomb money line: Iowa State -1449, Lipscomb +829
LIP: The Bisons have hit the money line in 11 of their last 12 games (+9.30 units)
ISU: The Cyclones have hit the game total under in 21 of their last 36 games (+4.45 units) )
Iowa State vs. Lipscomb picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why Iowa State can cover

Senior guard Curtis Jones earned the Big 12 Sixth Man Award and was named to the All-Big 12 first team. He is averaging 17.1 points per game, which ranks fifth in the Big 12 this season. He averaged 16.9 points in 23 games off the bench, the best mark in Division I in 2024-25. Jones connects on 42.3% of his field goals, including 37.2% from 3-point range, and 84% from the free throw line.

Another key cog to the Cyclones offense is junior forward Joshua Jefferson. In 33 games, all starts, he is averaging 13 points, 7.4 rebounds, three assists and 2.1 steals in 29.3 minutes. He has reached double-digit scoring in each of the last four games, including a 19-point, four-rebound, two-block and two-steal effort in an 88-85 double-overtime loss to BYU on March 4. He had 14 points, six assists, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals in the quarterfinal loss to the Cougars. See which team to pick here.

Why Lipscomb can cover

Senior Jacob Ognacevic was the ASUN Player of the Year, just the third Lipscomb player to ever earn the award and first since Garrison Matthews in 2019. He leads the Atlantic Sun with 20.1 points per game, and is tied for second in Division I with five games with 30 or more points. He has 10 double-doubles on the year, including a 21-point and 12-rebound performance in an 81-75 overtime win over Queens in an ASUN Tournament semifinal matchup. He had 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 78-60 win over Central Arkansas on Feb. 26.

Senior guard Will Pruitt has registered one double-double and one triple-double on the season. In a 96-64 win over North Florida on Jan. 4, he scored 11 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. He had 20 points and 12 boards in an 82-68 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 15. In 34 games, all starts, he is averaging 13.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 32.3 minutes. See which team to pick here.

How to make Lipscomb vs. Iowa State picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 152 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can only get the model’s picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Lipscomb vs. Iowa State, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Lipscomb vs. Iowa State spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $2,000 on its top-rated college basketball picks since last season, and find out.