Iowa State Cyclones vs Baylor Bears Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 01/07/2026

Game Time: 8:00 pm ET, Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Venue:  Foster Pavilion, Waco, TX

Where to Watch:  Peacock

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Iowa State -5.5, Baylor +5.5; Over/Under:  158.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Iowa State -5.5, Baylor +5.5; Over/Under:  158.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Iowa State -5.5, Baylor +5.5; Over/Under:  158.5 points

Iowa State Cyclones:  14-0 (1-0) (2nd place, Big 12)

Baylor Bears:  10-3 (0-1) (10th place, Big 12)

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Iowa State Cyclones:  5-0  last 5

Baylor Bears:  4-1  last 5

Iowa State is entering this game with a 14-0 record overall, a 1-0 record in conference games, and they are 1-0 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the West Virginia Mountaineers in their last game. Milan Momcilovic led the team in points in that game with 26 while Blake Buchanan was next on the team with 14. Joshua Jefferson led the team in assists with 10 in that game while Joshua Jefferson led the team in rebounds with 10. They were 52.7% from the field, 52% from 3-point range, and 60% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 89.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 62.6 PPG against them. Iowa State has an ATS record of 8-5-1 this season and their O/U record is 8-6.

Baylor is entering this game with a 10-3 record overall, a 0-1 conference record, and they are 8-0 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the TCU Horned Frogs in their last game. Cameron Carr led the team in points in that game with 17 while Dan Skillings Jr. was next on the team with 13. Obi Agbim led the team in assists with 5 in that game while Tounde Yessoufou led the team in rebounds with 5. They were 37.3% from the field, 23.8% from 3-point range, and 77.8% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 93.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 74.5 PPG against them. Baylor has an ATS record of 6-6 this season and their O/U record is 8-4.

The current betting odds have Iowa State listed as a 5.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Iowa State has looked great in their games this season with their 14-0 record overall and their 1-0 conference record which has them right near the top of the Big 12. They have been a good road team so far too with their 1-0 road record this year. Meanwhile, Baylor has looked good in their games this season with their 10-3 record overall, but their 0-1 conference record has them lower in the Big 12 at the moment. They have looked great on their home court though with their 8-0 home record this year. Baylor has been rolling in their games lately as they are 4-1 in their last 5, but they are off a loss in their last one. They have been rolling over bad opponents lately, but now they are off a loss to TCU in their first game of conference play, and they have been taking a lot of heat off the court for the signing of James Nnaji too. They have also struggled a lot more against some of the top opponents they have faced this year, and now they have to play one of the best teams in the nation. Iowa State has been rolling all year as they are one of the few undefeated teams left in the nation, and they have some really impressive wins under their belt too. They are off a win over West Virginia in their last one and they have been winning a lot of games by double digits. They have also been great on the defensive end this season and they are looking like one of the best teams in the nation, if not the best, and they are a true threat to win the Big 12 too. The best way to place a bet here is on Iowa State to cover the spread in this game. 

Iowa State Baylor Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Wednesday, January 7, 2026 (8:00 pm ET start time) is Iowa State 78 Baylor 62.

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Iowa State Cyclones: 53-30 ATS in all games. 11-4 ATS when the total is 150 to 159.5. 20-9 ATS off a win against a conference rival. 17-8 ATS off a home blowout win by 20 points or more. 7-3 UNDER as a road favorite or pick. 11-6 UNDER off a home win against a conference rival.

Baylor Bears: 7-17 ATS as an underdog. 4-9 ATS when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 80%). 4-9 ATS versus good defensive teams - allowing 64 points/game or less. 20-14 UNDER versus good rebounding teams - outrebounding opponents by 4+ per game. 

Iowa State Cyclones:  M. Williams (G) Out - Hip.

Baylor Bears:  M. Perez (F) Out - Knee. M. Soyoye (C) Out - Redshirt. J. White (G) Questionable - Foot. J. Bodo Bodo (C) Questionable - Arm. A. Iguodala (G-F) Out - Redshirt.

“Their wings, specifically when you look at [Cameron] Carr, [Tonde] Yessoufou, or [Dan] Skillings, they've got big wings. They get out in transition. Those guys in space are really effective, attacking the paint, attacking the basket, making plays, making shots.” - T.J. Otzelberger on his team’s upcoming game against Baylor.

"To be honest, it was a game situation and feeling if he would have played eight minutes, he'd have played eight. I thought he did a great job with playing the 16 minutes that he did." - Scott Drew after his team’s loss against TCU in their last game. 

B. Buchanan 

J. Jefferson 

T. Lipsey 

M. Momcilovic 

K. Toure

O. Agbim 

C. Carr 

M. Rataj 

D. Skillings 

T. Yessoufou

PPG: Milan Momcilovic (18.5)

APG: Tamin Lipsey (5.9)

Reb/G: Joshua Jefferson (7.3)

PPG: Cameron Carr (21)

APG: Obi Agbim (3.8)

Reb/G: Caden Powell (8.2)

Coaches:

Iowa State Cyclones: T.J. Otzelberger (5th season)

Baylor Bears: Scott Drew (23rd season)