Kansas State Wildcats vs Iowa State Cyclones Odds & Betting Tips

One of the best and most underrated rivalries in college football is the one known as Farmageddon. The Kansas State Wildcats and Iowa State Cyclones have a rivalry that dates back decades. Both teams come from agricultural schools with fan bases that have similar values and cultures. Most important of all, on the gridiron, the Wildcats and Cyclones punch above their weight. One of the realities of college football today is that dollars often take precedence over fans and tradition.

Farmageddon is typically played at the end of the season, with postseason implications on the line. Sellout crowds with passion are in the stands. This year, Farmageddon will be played far away and across the pond in Ireland to appease the TV and conference paymasters. Thus, many Iowa State and Kansas State fans will be listening back home in their tractors and out in the fields as they prepare for harvest.

Kansas State vs. Iowa State Preview

On Saturday, August 23, 2025, the Iowa State Cyclones will meet the Kansas State Wildcats at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Kickoff time is noon ET with television coverage on ESPN.

In his first season as Kansas State's starting quarterback, Averry Johnson threw for at least 250 yards four times and, not including sacks, rushed for at least 80 yards four times. His best performances were awesome enough that, in the Wildcats' nine wins, they averaged 37.6 points per game. He gave us quite a few glimpses of the potential he was supposed to have when he came to Manhattan as (and one of K-State's most celebrated signings in quite a while).

He also had some absolute duds. He threw two picks in three of the Wildcats' four losses. He went 12-for-28 against Iowa State. For as good as the good performances were, K-State averaged just 15.8 points in its four losses, three of which came in November as the Wildcats tumbled out of the Big 12 title race.

Iowa State continues to reach new heights under Matt Campbell and they have been a solid team for gamblers to wager on. He has been in charge of both of the school's AP top-15 finishes, including last year's 11-win run, and while the Cyclones' 112-year conference title drought continues, he has brought them to the Big 12 title game twice.

Wild swings in close-game fortunes have defined recent seasons: From mid-2021 through early 2023, the Cyclones lost an incredible 12 of 13 one-score games, but they have since won seven of nine. That has masked some otherwise remarkable consistency: In the past eight seasons, they've finished between 23rd and 37th in SP+ six times, with one year above (2020) and one year below (2022).

Their No. 32 projection for 2025 makes sense, then, though with seven games projected within one score, they'll once again be privy to the whims of the mercies of close games.

Kansas State vs. Iowa State Predictions

On this occasion, we have a matchup of two arch-rivals with similar playing styles and program cultures. But Kansas State is a potential Top-10 team that has a deeper roster and a superior quarterback.

Kansas State vs. Iowa State Prime Best Bet:  Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas State vs. Iowa State Betting Tips

The Iowa State Cyclones are a +3-point dog with a moneyline price of +124. The Kansas State Wildcats are -3-point favorites with a moneyline price of -148. The Wildcats and Cyclones have a total of 49.5.

Kansas State vs. Iowa State Head-to-Head and Key Stats

In this Farmageddon series, the Wildcats and Cyclones have split their most recent ten games. However, Iowa State won four of the last five meetings straight up with a 4-0-1 record against the spread. Four of the last six games between the Cyclones and Wildcats went under the total.

Iowa State has gotten the cash in five of its last six games as an underdog. The Cyclones have gone over the total in only five of their most recent 17 games as an underdog.

By contrast, the Kansas State Wildcats have covered only five of their most recent 15 games as favorites. The Cats went over the total in six of their most recent eight games as chalk.