The No. 12 UAB Blazers (27-7) meet the No. 5 Houston Cougars (29-5) Friday in the first round of the South Region. Tip is scheduled for 9:20 p.m. ET at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Below, we look at the UAB vs. Houston odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Blazers defeated Louisiana Tech 82-73 in the Conference USA Championship to earn an automatic bid. UAB has won 7 straight games, but covered the spread in just 3 of them. On the season, the Blazers are 18-13-1 against the spread (ATS).
UAB averages the 14th-most points per game in the nation (80.0) and allows just the 55th most to opponents (65.1). G Jordan Walker is their leading scorer at 20.4 points per game.
Houston is coming off a dominating 71-53 win over Memphis in the American Athletic Conference title game, covering as 3.5-point favorites. It is 22-12 ATS this season and have covered 7 of its last 8.
The Cougars are led by G Kyle Edwards who has stepped up with G Marcus Sasser sidelined. Houston has the No. 1 defense in terms of opponents’ efficiency, allowing teams to shoot just 37.2% from the field.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
UAB vs. Houston odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:08 p.m. ET.
- Money line: UAB +330 (bet $100 to win $330) | Houston -450 (bet $450 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): UAB +8.5 (-108) | Houston -8.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
[tipico]
UAB vs. Houston odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Houston 73, UAB 67
Money line
PASS.
Houston is one of the best defensive teams in the tournament, and I like them to stave off the upset. However, UAB, given its efficiencies, is the only way to play the money line.
I’d look toward the points for value though.
Against the spread
BET UAB +8.5 (-108).
UAB may be the best No. 12 seed in the tournament and has a plethora of experienced players. Its top 9 scorers are either juniors or seniors, and with a 7-foot starting center, it certainly won’t lack size either.
Not only do the Blazers rank 14th in points per game, but they also sit 43rd in field goal percentage and 30th in three-point percentage. UAB has the 29th-most efficient offense.
Houston’s elite defense should be able to keep them from their 80 points per game, but I’d expect UAB to hold up, especially since its defense also sits 88th in the nation.
As for Houston, losing Sasser has been huge as it has dropped 2 games to Memphis and one to SMU in its last 14 games. It has been held under 72 points in 4 of its last 6.
I expect the Cougars to win, but the Blazers are efficient enough to keep this game close.
Over/Under
LEAN to the OVER 137.5 (-115).
UAB is efficient and, given its experience, should be able to help force its style in this battle.
The Blazers sit 79th in adjusted tempo per Kenpom. Houston plays at a much slower pace, especially without Sasser, but it is still efficient, shooting 46.7% from the field this season.
While it is just 14-18-2 O/U and 6-7-1 O/U more recently, the Cougars may be forced to slow down a UAB team that has typically imposed its will on opponents in Conference USA.
UAB is 21-10-1 O/U this season and has gone over in 5 straight and in 10 of its last 13.
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