I absolutely believe ISU will win this game, mainly because Niang, Morris, and McKay will not let them lose.
However, Iowa is a decent team this year and I don't see that this game will be a beatdown unless ISU plays their best game of the year so far.
I've watched Iowa several times this year. They are a decent team defensively. They don't seem to rebound as well as they have in the past, yet, they are still out-rebounding their opponents in most cases. They are a much better shooting team, especially from 3, than they have been in the past. Also, they move the ball very well with passing.
Some things to be concerned about......Iowa has played better competition than ISU so far this year, and has fared pretty well, even in their 2 losses. They average more assists, 3 point baskets made and blocks per game than ISU does. Plus, their shooting percentage is close to ISU's, and their free throw and three point shooting percentages are better than ISU's.
This game concerns me because ISU has not really looked like itself, or what a top 5 team should look like, for a full game yet this year. Some of these games should have been blowouts in Hilton, and instead they were 20 point wins not decided until later in the games. Also, Iowa managed to rest their starters for a lot of Monday's game, ISU did not have that luxury. Another factor could be that Iowa was embarrassed last year in CHA. There is nothing that they would like more than to beat ISU at Hilton.....giving ISU it's first defeat of the year, and knocking them out of the top 10.
At times, watching Iowa this year you would think you were watching a Fred-coached team (with less talent than his ISU teams) rather than a Fran-coached team. I say this mostly in referring to their ball movement, and their attempts to run transition basketball. Uthoff and Jok are their main scoring threats, and of late Uhl has contributed.
Again, I do believe ISU will win this game, but it is one to be concerned about and not taken lightly at all, no matter how much you hate Iowa.