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The No. 14 Houston Cougars (9-3, 1-0 Big 12) welcome the BYU Cougars (10-2, 1-0) to the Fertitta Center Saturday. Tip in the Big 12 clash is set for 2 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the BYU vs. Houston odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
Houston, which is No. 14 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, enters on a 5-game win streak. The Cougars beat the Oklahoma State Cowboys 60-47 Monday, closing as an 11.5-point road favorite. They have covered in 2 straight – yet are just 6-6 against the spread (ATS) on the season.
BYU beat the Arizona State Sun Devils 72-56 Tuesday, closing as a 9.5-point home favorite. The Cougars have rattled off 4 straight wins and are a perfect 4-0 ATS in those. BYU is 7-5 ATS on the season. Its most high-profile game was a neutral-court overtime loss to the No. 23 Ole Miss Rebels Nov. 28.
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BYU at Houston odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds Lines last updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): BYU +375 (bet $100 to win $375) | Houston -500 (bet $500 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): BYU +9.5 (-110) | Houston -9.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 132.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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BYU at Houston picks and predictions
Prediction
Houston 70, BYU 59
Moneyline
PASS.
There’s no good value on the moneyline. Houston is far too expensive to take, and BYU, which has yet to be an underdog, is 0-2 straight up as a favorite of 5 or fewer, suggesting it has struggled keeping pace with good opponents.
Against the spread
BET HOUSTON -9.5 (-110).
BYU is 0-2 ATS as a favorite of 5 or fewer and is 0-1 ATS on the road this season. The Cougars have yet to be play a top-20 team and may struggle with the intense Houston defense.
Houston is 2-0 ATS in its last 2 and 5-2 ATS at home on the season. The Cougars have held 5 straight opponents to 51 or fewer, so their defense should be able to help propel them to a cover on Saturday.
Back HOUSTON -9.5 (-110).
Over/Under
BET UNDER 132.5 (-110).
The Houston defense has been too strong to bet against here. It held No. 2 Auburn to just 74 in early November and allowed just 47 to Oklahoma State and 51 to Butler, its last 2 battles against teams in major conferences.
BYU, which has gone Under in 2 of its last 3, has played terrific defense as of late as well, holding 3 straight opponents to 57 or fewer. It is 2-2 O/U in games with a single-digit spread. Play UNDER 132.5 (-110).
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