In Wednesday’s action the Wichita State Shockers (6-2, 2-0 AAC) face the 11th-ranked Houston Cougars (8-1, 3-1) for an 8 p.m. ET tip at the Fertitta Center in Houston. Below, we analyze the Wichita State-Houston college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Rankings courtesy of USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.
Wichita State at Houston: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:50 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Wichita State +550 (bet $100 to win $550) | Houston -800 (bet $800 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Wichita State +11.5 (-110) | Houston -11.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 135.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Wichita State at Houston: Three things to know
- Wichita State picked up a win at Mississippi last time out Jan. 2 as 8.5-point underdogs. It was their most impressive win of the season, and their fifth consecutive win overall. They have also covered three straight, while going 2-0-1 ATS across the past three as an underdog. The Over has hit in three in a row for Wichita State, too.
- Houston opened with seven straight victories, conjuring up memories of Phi Slama Jama. But they were knocked down a peg at Tulsa Dec. 29, suffering a 65-64 loss as 9.5-point underdogs. They bounced back nicely on Sunday, posting a 74-60 win as two-point favorites as the Under (135) connected. The Under is 3-1 in the past four for UH, and 6-3 in nine games overall.
- The Shockers have posted an 18-7-1 ATS mark across the past 26 road games, and they’re 3-1-1 ATS in the previous five against winning teams. The Cougars have covered in five of the past seven overall, but they’re just 2-9 ATS across the past 11 following a cover dating back to last season.
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Wichita State at Houston: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Houston 70, Wichita State 62
Money line (ML)
Houston (-800) is expected to get it done on their home floor, but they’ll get all they can handle from Wichita State (+550). This is the kind of signature win the Shockers need to get themselves back into the national picture, and they enter brimming with confidence after toppling Ole Miss in their barn. Last time out. You can’t risk eight times your potential return.
PASS.
Against the spread (ATS)
WICHITA STATE +11.5 (-110) will have a difficult time against Houston -11.5 (-110) and its lockdown defense, as the Cougars are yielding just 56.3 PPG to rank fourth in the country. They’re also 19th in defensive field-goal percentage (37.8) and 11th in defensive 3-pointer percentage (24.5). But the Shockers have covered three in a row, and they’re on a five-game win streak. They will give Houston quite a test, and Wichita State will keep it in the single digits.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 135.5 (-110) is the play, cashing in eight of the past 11 for Wichita State, and five of the past seven following a straight-up win. The Under is also a ridiculous 21-5-1 in Houston’s past 27 at home against teams with a winning road mark, and 8-2 in the past 10 overall at Fertitta Center. The Under is also a robust 12-1 in the past 13 for Houston against teams with a winning percentage over .600.
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