The top two teams in the Big 12 will collide on Saturday when the sixth-ranked Houston Cougars travel to Tucson, AZ, to take on the 13th-ranked Arizona Wildcats.
This will be a clash of styles, as the Cougars like to play slow, and the Wildcats like to play fast.
Find out why my Houston vs. Arizona predictions see the Cougars finding some success in shooting from deep in my college basketball picks for Saturday, February 15.
Houston vs Arizona prediction
My best bet
Houston -1.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The winner of this game will have control of their own destiny for the regular season Big 12 title.
The Arizona Wildcats are 11-1 at home this season with their lone loss coming all the way back in November against the Duke Blue Devils.
However, the Houston Cougars are a perfect 6-0 on the road this season, including a double-overtime win at Kansas.
The Cougars have played an astounding four overtime games this season, and three of their four losses came in those games.
One of the reasons for their many close games is that they have the best scoring defense in the country and limit possessions.
They allow only 57.3 points per game and average only 65.8 possessions per game, which ranks 357th in the country.
On offense, Houston mostly relies on two-pointers, but they actually shoot very poorly at 49.6% on those shots.
Meanwhile, they shoot 39.4% from three (ranked ninth) even though they only attempt 20.8 per contest (ranked 265th).
The good news for them is that the Wildcats' defense struggles mightily to defend the three-point arc.
Opponents average 26.3 three-pointer attempts per game against the Wildcats, which ranks 336th defensively. They also allow 35.8% of their opponent points from three – ranked 319th nationally.
Houston guards LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp will be the key players to take advantage of this mismatch, as they average a combined 12.6 three-point attempts per game in Big 12 play.
Both are excellent rebounding and extremely efficient, with very few turnovers. The real weakness for both teams is allowing threes, and Houston has a massive advantage in that category offensively.
The Wildcats rank 244th in three-point attempts (21.4) and 299th in three-point percentage (31.8%).
If Houston can continue their excellent defense within the arc, they should be able to hold the Wildcats to below 73 points.
That could be the key number, as the Cougars are 19-0 when allowing less than 73 points, and the Wildcats are 1-4 in games in which they failed to reach 73 points.
I like the Cougars to pull off another big road win.
Houston vs Arizona same-game parlay (SGP)
Houston -1.5
Under 138
To go with our best bet, I am going to take the Under of 138 points. I mentioned how I believe that Arizona will be held to Under 73 points.
In the five games in which they have failed to reach 73, they have averaged 61.0 points per game.
Arizona has hit the game total Under in 13 of their last 23 games at home and will struggle to score if they must depend on hitting threes.
It will be especially rough for them if they let Houston control the pace of the game, which they are able to do so often.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game CBB moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your school goes up by 18+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Houston vs Arizona odds
Houston vs Arizona live odds
Houston vs Arizona opening odds
- Spread: Houston -1.5 (-110) | Arizona +1.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Houston (-135) | Arizona (+115)
- Over/Under: Over 138 (-110) | Under 138 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Houston vs Arizona betting trend to know
Houston has covered the Spread in 20 of their last 37 games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Houston vs. Arizona.
How to watch Houston vs Arizona
| Location | McKale Memorial Center, Tucson, AZ |
| Date | Saturday, 2-15-2025 |
| Tip-off | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Houston vs Arizona key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
