Iowa State Cyclones vs UCF Knights odds, spread & prediction
Iowa State Cyclones4-5
UCF Knights5-4Iowa State walks into the Acrisure Bounce House on Friday night as a conference underdog, but their one prior meeting a year ago went down to the wire. UCF's home-field edge is baked into that price.
See the full college football board & lines →Iowa State Cyclones vs UCF Knights prediction: who is favored
The market favors the UCF Knights at -160 on the moneyline, a 58% implied chance to win.
BettorEdge community odds as of Nov 9. This is what bettors are pricing, not a pick, and it moves as money comes in.
At a glance
- UCF is the favorite at -160; Iowa State's fair price in the markets is +127
- Iowa State is 4-5, UCF is 5-4, both in the Big 12
- Last meeting: Iowa State 38, UCF 35 in October 2024
Lines at a glance
Where this game is priced right now. Every number is peer to peer, set by bettors rather than a sportsbook.
No spread is shown for this game. The market has not settled on one number yet, and a spread we cannot confirm against the moneyline is worse than none at all.
Iowa State vs UCF preview
Set Your Own Number on BettorEdge
The fair price in the markets is +127 for Iowa State and -160 for UCF. Post the number you think is right and let the community trade against you, with no built-in vig eating into the price.
The Matchup
UCF averages 30.1 points per game and allows 26.0, giving them a slight edge on both sides of the ball over Iowa State's 29.2 and 28.9. The Cyclones have been wildly inconsistent, dropping 10-24 at BYU and 3-39 at Arizona before grinding out a 51-49 win over Oklahoma State. UCF beat BYU 39-31 at home but dropped a 9-41 decision to Baylor on their own field. Common opponents offer a split read: Iowa State edges UCF on the Oklahoma State result but UCF flips it against BYU.
Recent History
The only meeting on record in the last eight seasons came in October 2024 at Jack Trice Stadium, where Iowa State edged UCF 38-35. UCF will be at home this time at the Acrisure Bounce House, a venue that clearly factors into that -160 price. Iowa State enters on a one-game losing streak; UCF arrives on a one-game winning streak after a 33-32 road win at Kansas.
How to play it
UCF's home advantage and the slight defensive edge support the favorite tag, but -160 is a steep ask for a team that just gave up 41 at home to Baylor. Iowa State at +127 is a live number for a team that covered a three-score deficit to beat Oklahoma State.
2026 season so far
Every result both teams have posted this season, with scoring averages.
- vs Southeast Missouri StateW 38-10
- at IowaL 13-16
- vs Bowling GreenW 55-7
- vs UtahL 17-31
- vs West VirginiaW 45-42
- at BYUL 10-24
- at ArizonaL 3-39
- vs Oklahoma StateW 51-49
- at BaylorL 31-42
Went 8-4 in 2025. Current streak: L1.
- vs Bethune-CookmanW 73-6
- at PittsburghL 7-12
- vs Georgia StateW 44-30
- vs TCUW 21-13
- at HoustonL 17-27
- at Oklahoma StateL 28-42
- vs BYUW 39-31
- vs BaylorL 9-41
- at KansasW 33-32
Went 5-7 in 2025. Current streak: W1.
Common opponents
Teams both sides have already played this season.
- BYUIowa State: L 10-24UCF: W 39-31
- Oklahoma StateIowa State: W 51-49UCF: L 28-42
- BaylorIowa State: L 31-42UCF: L 9-41
Matchup history
Iowa State Cyclones and UCF Knights last played on Saturday, Oct 19, 2024, when the Iowa State Cyclones won 38–35.
UCFUCF Knights@ISUIowa State Cyclones35–38ISUMeetings from the last 8 seasons, from ESPN.
Preseason scouting report
Iowa State Cyclones
- New head coach in Jimmy Rogers (Washington State Head Coach)
- New offensive coordinator in Tyler Roehl (Detroit Lions TE Coach) and defensive coordinator in Jesse Bobbit (Washington State Defensive Coordinator)
- No offensive or defensive starters from last season return
- Arkansas State transfer Jaylen Raynor is expected to start at QB (3,361 yards, 19 TDs, and 11 INTs; 423 rushing yards, 7 rushing TDs)
UCF Knights
- Starting QB from last season is gone. James Madison transfer James Barnett III (2,806 yards, 23 TDs, 8 INTs; 589 rushing yards, 15 rushing TDs)
- Starting RB from last season is gone. Central Arkansas transfer Landen Chambers is expected to start (1,273 yards, 10 TDs)
- Top two players in terms of receiving yards return in WR Duane Thomas Jr. (528 yards, 0 TDs) and TE Dylan Wade (523 yards, 5 TDs)
- One starting offensive lineman returns with four transfers expected to start
The rest of the slate
Every other Power 5 game with a live market right now.
More college football odds
Frequently asked questions
What time does Iowa State Cyclones vs UCF Knights start?+
Iowa State Cyclones at UCF Knights kicks off Friday, Nov 20, 6:00 PM ET at Acrisure Bounce House. Start times are listed in Eastern; check your own zone if you are watching from elsewhere.
Who is favored in Iowa State Cyclones vs UCF Knights?+
The UCF Knights are favored at -160 on the moneyline in prediction markets. Prices move as money comes in, and on BettorEdge you can set your own number on either side.
What is the spread for Iowa State Cyclones vs UCF Knights?+
No spread is posted for this game yet. College markets open later and move more than NFL markets, and we would rather show you nothing than a number we cannot confirm.
What are Iowa State and UCF's records in 2026?+
The Iowa State Cyclones are 4-5 and the UCF Knights are 5-4 this season. Iowa State is scoring 29.2 points a game and allowing 28.9; UCF is scoring 30.1 and allowing 26.
When did Iowa State and UCF last play?+
They last met on Saturday, Oct 19, 2024, when Iowa State Cyclones won 38-35 at Jack Trice Stadium.
What is the "community lean" on this game?+
It is the share of real money posted on each team on the BettorEdge peer-to-peer order book. Because every price is backed by another bettor, the open interest is a genuine read on what the community believes.
When do the lines lock?+
Markets lock at kickoff, Friday, Nov 20, 6:00 PM ET. Prices move as money comes in beforehand, so the community lean and the best number can shift right up until the game starts.
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