Kansas Jayhawks (22-8) vs. Houston Cougars (27-3)
March 9, 2024 4:00 pm EDT
The Line: Houston Cougars -8.5; Over/Under: +137
(Get latest betting odds)
The Kansas Jayhawks and the Houston Cougars meet in college basketball action from the Fertitta Center on Saturday afternoon. Who comes out on top in this battle of Big 12 heavyweights? Let’s dive in and find out with our Kansas vs. Houston Prediction.
Kansas Team Preview
The Kansas Jayhawks come into this one looking to build on a 90-68 win over Kansas State last time out. Kevin McCullar Jr. leads Kansas in scoring with 19.1 PPG along with 6.2 RPG and 4.3 APG while Hunter Dickinson has 18.2 PPG with a team-high 11 RPG, leading the Jayhawks on the glass by averaging a monstrous double-double per game. K.J. Adams Jr. has 12.2 PPG with 4.5 RPG and 3.2 APG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Kansas so far this season. As a team, Kansas is averaging 77 PPG on 49.8% shooting from the field, 34.4% from three and 73% from the foul line this season.
Houston Team Preview
The Houston Cougars come into this game looking to build on their eight-game win streak after a 67-59 win over UCF last time out. LJ Cryer leads the Cougars in scoring with 15.8 PPG along with 1.9 APG while Emanuel Sharp has 12.4 PPG and 3.8 RPG and Jamal Shead has 13.2 PPG with a team-high 6.2 APG as well to lead the Cougars in assists and to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Houston so far this season. J’Wan Roberts has a team-high 6.9 RPG up to this point in the year. As a team, Houston is averaging 74.1 PPG on 43.8% shooting from the field, 34.7% from three and 68.5% from the foul line this season.
Kansas vs. Houston Prediction
I’m on Houston here. I get that the Cougars are banged up for this game, but so are the Jayhawks, and this is a revenge spot at home for Houston with a chance to make a big move towards the #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Cougars have a defense that can suffocate anyone, big or small, and all Houston has done at home this season is beat up on their opposition. I think this is a similar spot where Houston takes out some frustration on Kansas so give me the Cougars laying the points.
