Houston’s quest for a No. 1 seed continues as they host Kansas. Our preview details the point spread, recent form, and expert ATS prediction.
Houston continues its quest for a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament when it hosts Kansas for a Big 12 bout Monday night in H-Town.
The Cougars are already the Big 12’s regular-season champions. Now, the trick is to finish well and grab that No. 1 seed.
The Jayhawks, on the other hand, are a sub-.500 team over the last five weeks.
Who do we like for our free college basketball betting pick?
NCAAB Betting Odds
Monday’s CBB betting market opened Houston at -10.5 over Kansas, with an over/under of right around 132. Early betting action dipped that line to -9.5.
Kansas-Houston Betting Preview
The Jayhawks are just 5-6 SU, 3-8 ATS over their last 11 games after losing at home to Texas Tech Saturday 78-73. Kansas, favored at -3, trailed by 14 early in the second half. The Jayhawks then rallied to tie at 73-73 with two minutes left but ran out of gas and got outscored 5-0 from there.
Kansas shot just 4/18 from 3-point land Saturday, while the Red Raiders shot 15/43.
So the Jayhawks have shot less than 30 percent from long range four times over their last six games.
Two games ago Kansas won at Colorado, the worst team in the conference, 71-64. Three games ago the Jayhawks beat another conference bottom feeder, Oklahoma State, 96-64.
At 10-8 in conference play Kansas sits in sixth place in the Big 12, two games out of fourth place and two games ahead of ninth place. (In the Big 12 the top four finishers in the regular-season standings earn double byes for the conference tournament; seeds 5-8 earn single byes; everybody else must play extra games.)
Also, at 19-9 overall, the Jayhawks are headed back to the NCAA tournament; they just won’t be as high a seed as they’re used to.
Meanwhile the Cougars ride an eight-game winning streak into Monday night after beating Cincinnati Saturday 73-64. Houston, favored at -13, overcame a slow start to lead 37-25 at the half. The Cougars later led by 19 but took their foot off the gas, eased home to victory but coughed up the cover.
Houston shot 54 percent from the floor Saturday while holding the Bearcats to 44 percent FG shooting.
So that’s five straight games the Cougars held opponents to 44 percent shooting or less.
Two games ago, Houston won at Texas Tech 69-61 and covered at -4.5. Three games ago the Cougars beat Iowa State 68-59, although they couldn’t quite cover at -11.
At 15-1 in conference play Houston already owns the top seed for the upcoming Big 12 tournament. And at 25-4 overall the Cougars remain right in the running for one of the top seeds for the upcoming Big Dance.
By the Numbers
Kansas is shooting 47 percent from the floor this season, while Houston is holding opponents to 38 percent FG shooting.
The Cougars are shooting 46 percent from the field, while the Jayhawks are holding foes to 39 percent shooting.
Kansas is out-rebounding opponents by a 35-32 per-game margin, Houston by 33-26.
Finally, the Jayhawks own an 18-11 per-game assist/turnover ratio, the Cougars 13-9.
Kansas-Houston Recent History
The Cougars are 2-1 both SU and ATS against the Jayhawks since the teams became conference rivals. Last year, the teams split two meetings, each winning on their home courts. Houston then took the first meeting between the teams this season back in January 92-86 in Lawrence in double-overtime.
That game played very close all across the stat sheet. The biggest discrepancy came in the turnover battle, won by the Cougars 12-5.
Also, that game played over a total of 128 in regulation.
Common Opponents
These teams have recently played one common opponent, Texas Tech. Houston beat the Red Raiders 10 days ago 69-61, while Kansas lost to Tech Saturday 78-73.
Betting Trends
- Houston is 9-7 ATS at home this season.
- Houston is 4-3 ATS when favored by single digits.
- Kansas is 2-3 ATS as an underdog.
Totals Report
- The Under is 20-9 in Jayhawks games this season, which are averaging 144 total points.
- The Under is 15-14 in Cougars games, which are averaging 133 points.
