The college basketball world turns its eyes to West Lafayette on Saturday, as the unbeaten Iowa State Cyclones (8-0) hit the road to challenge the top-ranked Purdue Boilermakers (8-0) in one of the season’s most anticipated non-conference showdowns. Both teams enter with perfect records and will try to make a statement here. Before tip-off, continue reading to get my thoughts on this game, including my Iowa State vs Purdue prediction.
Our Iowa State vs Purdue Pick
Pick: Purdue -5.5
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Iowa State Cyclones @ Purdue Boilermakers
- Date & Time: Saturday, December 6, 2025, 12:00 PM ET
- Venue: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana
- Broadcast: CBS
Key Storylines
- Two undefeated squads collide: Both teams have identical 8-0 records. Purdue is 4-0 at home while Iowa State is 8-0 overall, and riding high after an offensive explosion in its last game.
- Iowa State’s shooting is scorching: In a 132–68 win over Alcorn State on December 3, the Cyclones set new school records. They scored 132 points and made 22 three-pointers. Forward Milan Momcilovic drained 8 of 9 from deep en route to 27 points, while guard Jamarion Batemon knocked down 7 of 10 threes. The Cyclones are leading the nation in field-goal percentage (.550), rank third in three-point percentage (.433), and are fourth in scoring (96.3 PPG).
- Purdue’s balance and physicality: The Boilermakers feature a deep roster, with four different players averaging between 11.3 and 15.6 PPG. Five different players have led the team in scoring in a game this season. Their recent 81–65 win at Rutgers showcased their rebounding dominance. Purdue out-rebounded Rutgers 36–25 and had 11 offensive boards. Trey Kaufman-Renn grabbed 13 boards and scored 19 points for his fourth double-double in six games. Purdue ranks 14th nationally in rebound margin and leads the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.17).
- Playoff résumé and national relevance: This game is a marquee non-conference test for both schools and could significantly impact NCAA Tournament seeding and perception as the season goes on. A win here will carry a ton of weight for whichever program can claim the victory, especially if Iowa State can win in its first true road game.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- The all-time series between these two programs is closely contested. Purdue leads 3–2 and this will be the first meeting on Purdue’s home floor since the 1987–88 season.
- Purdue is 4-4 against the spread this season.
- Iowa State is 6-1-1 against the spread this year.
- Purdue has stayed under the total in 5 of their first 8 games.
- Iowa State games have gone over the total 6 times through 8 games.
Iowa State vs Purdue Model Projection
- Score Projection: Iowa State 75 – Purdue 82
- Win Probability: Iowa State 35%, Purdue 65%
Final Thoughts
I think that the Purdue Boilermakers are going to hold serve on their home floor in this contest. The Boilermakers already have wins over Memphis and Alabama this season and they should take down another elite program in this contest. I’m going to lay the points with Purdue here, as they should control the glass and control the game at home.
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