Arizona vs Houston Predictions, Picks & Props to Target

• #2 Houston is a 6.5-point favorite over Arizona in tonight’s Big 12 Championship Game
• The Cougars defeated the Wildcats 62-58 in their lone meeting this season
• See the Arizona vs Houston predictions, picks and props, below

If there’s one team in the nation you don’t want to play right now, it’s probably #2 Houston (29-4, 19-1 Big 12). The Cougars breezed through the Big 12 regular season, and now can punctuate a great season with a victory over Arizona (22-11, 14-6 Big 12) in tonight’s conference title game. Online sportsbooks like their chances, pegging them as chalk in the college basketball odds. Tip-off is scheduled for 6pm ET from the T-Mobile Center, in Kansas City, MO, with ESPN providing the broadcast coverage.

Arizona vs Houston Odds

Houston is currently favored by 6.5-points and -310 on the moneyline, in a contest with a total of 134.5. Per the college basketball public betting trends, both the spread and total are down a point since opening odds were released. Arizona comes back as a +245 underdog.

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Arizona vs Houston Predictions

I predict we’re going to see more offense between these two teams than in their first meeting. Houston prevailed 62-58 in that matchup, as both programs struggled offensively. The Cougars and Wildcats were both sub 30% from three, while Arizona shot only 37% from the field overall. That’s an outlier performance from them, as they rank 15th in the country in scoring.

The Wildcats are 62nd in shooting efficiency, and are especially dangerous in the paint. They’re 43rd on shots inside the arc, and crash the boards at an elite rate. Offensive rebounds lead to second chance opportunities, which Arizona typically capitalizes on.

As for Houston, they’re simply a well oiled machine. They’ve ripped off 12 straight wins, and are a top-three March Madness odds contender. Their three-point shooting was abysmal in the first matchup (5-of-17), but we should expect some positive regression.

The Cougars are fourth in the nation from behind the arc. They knock down 40% of their triples on a nightly basis, and defending the three-point line is one of Arizona’s weaknesses. The Wildcats rank 312th in opponent three-point makes this season.

Arizona vs Houston Props

College basketball props from DraftKings and FanDuel on March 15.

• ARIZ vs HOU Props Pick: LJ Cryer 3+ Threes (-125) at DraftKings

Which brings me to my favorite player prop to target in this matchup. I want to bet on the Cougars three-point prowess, and there’s no one better to put your money on than LJ Cryer. The senior guard is fresh off four treys in a blowout win over BYU. That gives him 3+ threes in 10 of his last 14 outings, to go along with some serious volume.

Cryer has launched 26 three-point attempts in his last three games alone. He’s a career 41% three-point shooter, averaging north of seven attempts per game. That kind of volume versus this underwhelming three-point defense is a recipe for success.

Arizona vs Houston Picks

• Over 134.5 (-115) at FanDuel

As for my best bet for the Big 12 Championship Game, I’m going over 134.5 points. This total is a product of recency bias. Yes, Houston’s defense is elite. They’ve held 12 straight opponents below 70 points. However, most of those programs were not of the same offensive caliber as Arizona. Despite not being ranked in the AP top-25, the Wildcats are 14th in net rating per KenPom, and 13th in offensive rating.

I expect them to have more success than they did in round one versus the Cougars, and for Houston to rise up offensively, especially from downtown.