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The No. 11 Houston Cougars (11-3, 3-0 Big 12) travel to meet the Kansas State Wildcats (7-7, 1-2) Saturday. Tip-off at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan. is set for 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Houston vs. Kansas State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The Cougars have won 7 in a row since Dec. 7, while covering 4 in a row. The Under and Over have alternated in each of the past 5 outings. Houston has won its only true road game this season at Oklahoma State Dec. 30, winning 60-47 as a 11.5-point favorite as the Under (137.5) cashed.
Houston’s offense is rather mediocre, hitting just 76.4 PPG while managing just 45.8% from the field. It is No. 3 in the nation hitting 41.4% from behind the 3-point line. Defensively, UH is No. 1 with 54.0 PPG allowed and a 34.3% field-goal percentage. Teams are hitting just 28.2% from behind the 3-point line.
The Wildcats have dropped 5 of the past 6 games, including a 79-66 loss at Oklahoma State Tuesday as a 2-point underdog. The Under has cashed in 4 in a row for K-State.
Kansas State is so-so offensively, going for 76.2 PPG, while also posting a 45.8% mark from the field, and 34.0% from behind the 3-point line. The Wildcats aren’t very good on the free-throw line, either, hitting just 67.3%. The defense has struggled, allowing 70.2 PPG, while teams are hitting 35.7% from behind the 3-point line against them.
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Houston at Kansas State 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 10:20 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Houston -700 (bet $700 to win $100) | Kansas State +500 (bet $100 to win $500)
- Against the spread: Houston -10.5 (-115) | Kansas State +10.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: 128.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Houston at Kansas State picks and predictions
Prediction
Houston 72, Kansas State 56
Moneyline
Houston (-700) will cost you 7 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not nearly enough return. In fact, that means you would need to risk $100 for just $14.29 of profit.
Even as part of a multi-leg parlay, you cannot include the Cougars, as they would suck all of the value out of your ticket.
PASS.
Against the spread
PLAY HOUSTON -10.5 (-115) laying the points. The Cougars have covered 4 in a row, including the only previous true road game at Oklahoma State on Dec. 30.
For Kansas State +10.5 (-105), it is 2-4 ATS in the past 6 games, while also going 2-4 ATS in 6 home outings this season.
The Wildcats faced Houston last season, with the Cougars winning 74-52 at home Jan. 27, 2024 as a 15-point favorite as the Under (129.5) hung on.
Over/Under
UNDER 128.5 (-110) is a strong play in this Big 12 battle.
Again, the Under cashed in the only previous meeting as conference mates Jan. 27 last season.
Houston has cashed the Under at a 5-2 clip in the past 7 games, and that’s likely not terribly surprising considering it leads the nation in points per game allowed and defensive field-goal percentage.
K-State has hit the low in 4 in a row, going for 71 or fewer points in 6 consecutive outings. Defensively, the Wildcats are allowing just 69.7 PPG in the past 3 outings.
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