Iowa vs. Iowa State NCCAW Prediction & Top Bets (December 10, 2025)
The Cy-Hawk battle is on in women’s college basketball, as the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones both hope to stay perfect on Wednesday night.
The two Iowa teams are a combined 19-0 so far, but only one will exit the evening with an unblemished record – and ultimate bragging rights.
This is a series that has been dominated by the Hawkeyes in recent years, with Iowa winning each of the last three games and eight of the last night. Iowa State will hope to buck that trend, while both teams will try to use this game to boost their standing in the women’s college basketball Top 25 rankings.
Iowa State is presently one slot above their in-state rivals, leading to a more intense matchup than usual – and that’s saying something.
Wondering which side will come out on top? Join me as I break down the key matchups en route to an Iowa vs. Iowa State prediction.
Game Details
- Matchup: Iowa Hawkeyes (9-0) vs. Iowa State Cyclones (10-0)
- Date & Time: Wednesday, December 10th, at 6:00 pm (7:00 pm ET)
- Venue: James H. Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa
- How to Watch: The game will be broadcast on ESPN
Early Season Performance & Trends
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes have been the better team for years, and not much has changed so far in 2025-25. They are off to a 1-0 start in the Big 10, and have been smashing (5-0) at home.
Iowa could be tested in this spot, however, as they’re on the road against a bitter rival that will aim to prove it’s their turn to go on a wild run. That said, the Hawkeyes are a young team that may not know any better.
The Hawkeyes have largely gone untested, putting up 74+ points in seven of their nine wins. Miami did give them a run for their money a few weeks back; however, while 7th-ranked Baylor also played them well.
Those close games could give Iowa State an inside track at turning the tables, or Iowa could already be proving they know how to win in any situation. So far, this is a team built on balanced offense (19th) and strong team defense (22nd).
Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones could be poised to make a big leap with a win over the hated Hawkeyes. Iowa has dominated this series, but there’s reason to believe the Cyclones’ time is now.
Iowa State has looked extremely good on offense, as star scorer Audi Crooks is having a sensational season (27.1 ppg) for the third-best scoring offense (95.8 ppg) in women’s college basketball.
The Cyclones definitely lean on their star player, but this is obviously a very talented roster offensively, with the team hitting almost 38% of their long-range shots and converting 79% at the charity stripe.
Iowa State isn’t quite as good on the defensive end of the floor, and we saw that firsthand in a wild shootout (106-95) against Indiana in their first Big 10 action of the season.
Head‑to‑Head / Historical Context
There is a ton of history in this Cy-Hawk series. The two Iowa universities have bad blood across numerous sports and enjoy waging war, so this is a huge game even if you remove the Top 25 rankings or long-term implications.
Iowa and Iowa State have battled each other in 54 previous women’s college basketball showdowns, with the Hawkeyes holding a 32-22 series edge. Iowa secured a win in the most recent meeting (75-69) and has dominated overall in recent historyIowa State did break an eight-game run with a 77-70 victory in 2021, and the location of this game has mattered to a degree. The Cyclones are 3-3 in the last six meetings on their home court ,and they’ll again have that advantage on Wednesday night.
Key Matchup Breakdown
This is not the Caitlin Clark-led offense of old. Iowa is still a very good offense (top-20 in points per game), but they’re more balanced and lean on interior scoring more than they have in the past.
Top scorer Ava Heiden (16.1 ppg) is a force as a scorer and rebounder (9.2 ppg), while she’s one of almost four players averaging double figures in scoring. Taylor McCave (9.8) just barely misses the cut, but gives Iowa a rock-solid fourth option.
This is an efficient offense that can work the ball inside and out, with Heiden crushing down low and Chazadi Wright (57%) killing defenses from long range. Wright also quarterbacks this offense (4 assists per game), helping Iowa rank 4th in assists per contest.
The Cyclones are the team built around a Caitlin Clark-type star, as Audi Crooks is a real force inside (27.6 points per game) and also helps out on the glass.
Crooks isn’t hitting shots from deep, but she’s taking on a massive scoring burden and gives Iowa State a nasty threat inside that opposing defenses rarely have an answer for.
That’s helped the Cyclones generate consistently elite offense, as they rank 3rd in scoring and happen to be the third-best shooting team in the nation. They’re getting easy buckets and finding the open girl, too, as Jada Williams (6.7 apg) guides an offense that is averaging the second-most assists on the year.
Addy Brown offers a second interior presence with even better rebounding prowess (9.1 rpg), while she even chips in 1.1 blocks per contest.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have the defensive edge in this game. They rank 22nd in defensive scoring and are nasty on the glass (10th) with 46.4 rebounds per game. Iowa State’s offense will give them problems in this matchup, while they still have the size to compete in the rebounding battle.
Iowa State has the more explosive offense and ranks 2nd in pace of play. The contrast of styles will make for a very interesting matchup on Wednesday night.
- Audi Crooks vs. Iowa’s interior defense: Crooks is putting up over 27 points per game and could feast in this spot. Iowa has size down low, but nobody is quite as strong as Crooks.
- Iowa State’s perimeter defense vs. Chazadi Wright: Wright is shooting a blistering 57% from long range. Iowa State’s pace of play could contribute to a lot of open looks, which could allow her to take over this game from the perimeter.
- Rebounding Battle: Iowa has the edge on the glass, but the Cyclones do have quite a bit of size and only trail the Hawkeyes by four rebounds per game. Who wins the battle of the glass could be huge for this tilt.
Audi Crooks has enjoyed this matchup in the past. She hung 31 and 10 on the Hawkeyes last year and has yet to beat the Hawkeyes in her career. She will be chomping at the bit to change that at home on Wednesday.
Iowa State obviously hasn’t lost yet, but they’ve benefited from playing seven games (7-0) on their home floor. They went 15-2 at home in 2024, too.
Betting Odds
Check out the latest Iowa vs. Iowa State betting odds at FanDuel:
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Iowa | +4.5 (-110) | +154 | Over 150.5 (-106) |
Iowa State | -4.5 (-110) | -192 | Under 150.5 (-114) |
Best Bets & Confidence Levels
| Bet | Recommendation | Confidence Level |
|---|---|---|
Iowa State Cyclones ML (-192) | Iowa has owned this series, but it’s time for the Cyclones to take over. They have the star power and at home, giving them the edge they need to flip the script. | 7/10 |
Audi Crooks Over 25 Points | Crooks is the heart of Iowa State’s team and she’s putting up over 27 points per game. Iowa doesn’t have anyone that can stop her, so she should have no trouble approaching her average in a huge home game. | 7/10 |
Iowa vs. Iowa State odds keep shifting as bettors react to the undefeated showdown — follow every line move, compare spreads and totals, and secure top value at the top sports betting sites.
Final Score Prediction & Closing Thoughts
Final Score Prediction: Iowa State 80, Iowa 75
Iowa State has a stud in Audi Crooks, who can dominate as a scorer inside. She also contributes to the Cyclones’ rebounding efforts and can be an enforcer with 0.9 blocked shots per game.
Crooks isn’t someone Iowa can stop easily, but even if they slow her down, the Hawkeyes still have to worry about Addy Brown, as well as a sharpshooting supporting cast that connects at a near-38% clip from long range.
Iowa defends well and is the more balanced team, but narrative is a thing, and so is home-court advantage. I think the Cyclones win the battle inside, and with the pace pushed a bit faster than Iowa would prefer, they should be able to pull out the win at home.
