NCAAB No. 4 Houston at No. 8 Kansas Free Pick

The final push toward March Madness is on, with a Big 12 showdown in Lawrence between the No. 4 Houston Cougars (19-2, 6-2 conference) and the eighth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks (17-4, 5-3) Saturday afternoon. Houston is leading the Big 12, a game ahead of Kansas (T-fourth).

As of this writing, the Houston Cougars are 9-1 (+900) to win it all, Kansas at 20-1 (+2000), according to college basketball championship odds.

Houston, in its first season as a member of the Big 12, has been a force, with five victories in a row entering this game. UH needed overtime to win, 76-72, at Texas this past Monday.

Kansas, no stranger to Big 12 success, easily disposed of visiting Oklahoma St., 83-54, last Tuesday, that after a tough, four-point defeat to Iowa St. at Ames in its previous outing. Now, the Jayhawks put a perfect (11-0) seasonal home record on the line, along with an overall 16-game win streak (310-17 under coach Bill Self) at Allen Fieldhouse. 

Lines weren’t available, but once posted, please refer to college basketball odds.

Kansas is leading the all-time series, 5-2. 

Cougars are Defensive

Do not blame the Houston Cougars if they’re defensive, as in the nation’s stingiest scoring defense (52.9 points per game), the lowest opposition field-goal percentage (35.5 percent, stats through Wednesday) as well.

There’s some offensive balance, too, led by former Baylor guard LJ Cryer (15.1 points/game) in his first season with the Cougars. Jamal Shead and Emanuel Sharp each average more than a dozen points/game. Shead had 25 points in the aforementioned overtime win in Austin.

Houston is, theoretically, just five points shy of a perfect season to date (four-point loss at Iowa St., one-point defeat at Texas Christian). Make that seven points, as it would’ve needed an additional five points against the Cyclones, another two against the Horned Frogs. however you get the picture.  

Jayhawks on Target

While the Houston Cougars control the other guys, the Kansas Jayhawks confound the other guys. Kansas enters with 50.4 percent field-goal accuracy (third in nation), having drilled the Oklahoma St. Cowboys to the tune of 57.6 percent in its latest effort. Kevin McCullar (19.8 points, 6.4 rebounds/game, 4.7 assists/game) and Hunter Dickinson (18.7 points/game, 11.2 rebounds/game, 59.2 percent field-goal accuracy) lead the way. McCullar missed the Okie St. game (bone bruise), though is expected to play against the Cougars.

Getting stops has been an issue with the Jayhawks, who surrender 68.2 points/game.

‘Hawks at Home 

While the Houston Cougars just went to Austin and left with a huge (overtime) victory against the intrastate Texas Longhorns, it’s a lot harder to win in Lawrence. Kansas isn’t going to allow Houston to spoil its flawless (Allen) Fieldhouse record this season.

Houston will try to slow this game down with its defense, but Kansas, especially if McCullar returns, just has too many weapons on offense.

Bet on the Kansas Jayhawks as a small underdog to win, tightening the Big 12 Conference race. Bet it now at BetUS.com