We’ve got a Big 12 matchup on the hardwood as a pair of teams take the floor in search of a win in the Sunflower State. The #12 Houston Cougars are on the road as they travel to collide with the Kansas State Wildcats Saturday evening. Houston dropped TCU 65-46 at home in their previous game Monday night, covering the line as an 18.5-point favorite. Kansas State fell 79-66 on the road at Oklahoma State in their previous contest Tuesday, failing to cover the line as a two-point underdog. In the all-time series between the schools, the Wildcats own a 5-4 advantage but the Cougars rolled to a 74-52 home win in the most recent meeting January 27, 2024.
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Who will win this matchup? Read more about this Houston vs. Kansas State prediction!
Cougars Look to Roar to Eighth Straight Win
Houston ran their win streak to seven games as they took down TCU at home Monday night their last time out. The Cougars improved to 11-3 overall and stand tied for the top spot in the Big 12 with a 3-0 mark in conference play. Against TCU, Houston took a 9-0 lead just 2:37 into the game and led the rest of the way. The Cougars led by seven at the half and didn’t let the Horned Frogs closer than three early in the second half. They quickly responded with a 9-0 to push the margin to 12 and weren’t threatened again. Houston shot 48.1% from the field, including eight of 19 from beyond the arc, and forced 19 turnovers in the contest. Emanuel Sharp led the Cougars with 14 points in the win.
On the year, the Cougars are 152nd in the nation in scoring offense with an average of 76.4 points per game. Houston collects an average of 38.1 rebounds (82nd) per contest while they dish out an average of 13.6 assists a night. The Cougars are 1st in the nation in scoring defense as they allow an average of 54 points per game. L.J. Cryer leads the team with 14.3 points a night this season. Emmanuel Sharp (14 points), J’Wan Roberts, Milos Uzan and Terrance Arceneaux all average better than eight points a night. Mylik Wilson, Joseph Tugler, Mercy Miller, Ja’Vier Francis and Ramon Walker Jr. are all key players for coach Kelvin Sampson. Houston shoots 45.8% from the floor as a team this season. The Cougars connect on 9.1 three-pointers per contest while they are shooting 41.4% from beyond the arc as a team, which is 3rd in Division I. Houston has been above average at the charity stripe, cashing in 74.8% of their attempts on the year, which is 84th in the nation.
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Kansas State Still Trying to Find Footing
Kansas State was dropped on the road by Oklahoma State in their previous game, losing for the fifth time in six games. The Wildcats tumbled to 7-7 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12 on the season as they try to right a sinking ship. Against Oklahoma State, Kansas State was within one with 5:52 to play in the opening half before giving up a 20-2 run to find themselves down 43-24 at intermission. The Wildcats never made a run in the second half, failing to trim the lead below 11, sending them to defeat. Kansas State shot 51.1% from the floor, though they were just three of 14 from beyond the arc, and turned the ball over 19 times in the contest. Coleman Hawkins led the Wildcats with 19 points in the loss.
The Wildcats are averaging 75.5 points a game so far this season as they are average offensively: they stand 177th in scoring offense. Kansas State is collecting 35.5 rebounds a night while dishing out an average of 16.9 assists (11th) per game. The Wildcats are slightly above average on the defensive end, ranking 164th in the nation by allowing 70.7 points per contest. David N’Guessan leads Kansas State in the scoring department as he puts up 13.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Brendan Hausen (12 points), Coleman Hawkins (10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists) and Dug McDaniel (10.1 points, 4.2 assists) are solid secondary scoring options. Max Jones, C.J. Jones, Macaleab Rich, Ugonna Onyenso and David Castillo all have to contribute for coach Jerome Tang if the team hopes to have success. The Wildcats are shooting 45.8% from the floor as a team this season. Kansas State is hitting 8.4 triples a night while shooting 34% from beyond the arc. The Wildcats are below average at the free throw line as they sink 67.3% of their chances from the stripe, putting them 299th in the nation.
Achor Achor was with the team but was dismissed in December for conduct detrimental to the program.
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Best Bets for Houston vs. Kansas State
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Kansas State has had all kinds of problems this season and this contest is not the cure for what ails them. Dealing with the Cougars is a difficult task for teams that are playing well, much less one that was just run out of Stillwater by a middle of the road Oklahoma State squad. We know how dominating Houston can be on the defensive end of the floor after they just squeezed the life out of TCU in their previous game. The Cougars are playing great ball right now with seven straight wins on the books, all coming by at least 13 points. There’s no reason to have faith in Kansas State right now with their recent performances. Take the Cougars, on the road, as they stifle the roar of the Wildcats.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Houston is a dominant defensive unit. The Cougars are second in defensive efficiency, first in effective field goal percentage (40.4%), field goal percentage (34.3%), two-point defense (39%) and scoring defense this season. Houston hasn’t given up more than 55 points in any of the games in their seven-game win streak. Kansas State hasn’t scored more than 71 points in any of their last six games and one can’t expect them to do much against Houston with as poorly as they’ve played lately. Even if the Cougars put up 70 points here, you can’t count on Kansas State to do enough to push this game over the total. Take the under in this one as a result.
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