The No. 5 Houston Cougars (21-4, 13-1 Big 12) look to stay hot as they face the Arizona State Sun Devils (12-13, 3-11 Big 12) in Tempe on Tuesday night.
Both teams have trended toward the Over lately — Arizona State is 4-1 O/U in its last five home games while Houston is 4-1 O/U in its last five overall.
See why I’m backing those trends to continue with my college basketball picks and predictions for Houston vs. Arizona State on Tuesday, February 18.
Houston vs Arizona State prediction
My best bet
Over 135.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The Arizona State Sun Devils are reeling after five consecutive losses. Coach Bobby Hurley described the mood best when he said his team has reached a “premium frustration level” after a home loss to TCU that damages their hopes for a postseason berth.
The offense has been keeping things going, however, reaching 70 or more points in six straight games. They caught fire in Lubbock but ultimately fell 106-111 in double overtime after not getting enough stops against Texas Tech.
Hurley’s squad has been playing at a break-neck speed, ranking 56th in BartTorvik’s adjusted tempo over the last month. It’ll be a difficult challenge to pull that off against the Houston Cougars, but I expect the Sun Devils to try and play this one on their preferred terms at home.
Arizona State is 4-1 O/U in its last five home games as it continues to push the pace.
Houston has also trended toward the Over, going 4-1 OU in its last five games. They should be able to expose an Arizona State defense that has regressed in conference play, especially if forward Jayden Quaintance (their highest-graded defender by a wide margin according to the advanced metrics) misses a third straight contest.
The Cougars always feature an elite defense under Kelvin Sampson, but its staggering advanced metrics are often puffed up in non-conference play. That’s led to an artificial decrease in their totals come the heart of conference play — the Cougars are 8-4 O/U in their last 12 games played in February.
Give me the Over in a game with a low total where the home team will look to push the pace and may be without its best defensive player.
Houston vs Arizona State same-game parlay (SGP)
Arizona State +12.5
Over 135.5
Houston has the nation’s longest active winning streak on the road (11 games). Arizona State is venting its frustration publicly and the NCAA Tournament is starting to feel like a long shot.
So why back the underdog? For those vibes precisely, which are helping shoot up a double-digit spread in a conference game. I’ll snap up the perceived value even though it is a tough pill to swallow.
Houston hasn’t met the high expectations as a huge favorite, going 0-3 ATS in its last three games favored by at least 10 points. It is one of the best teams in the country and is a threat to cut down the nets in March, but this is a wide spread against a desperate team playing at home.
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 State odds
Houston vs Arizona State live odds
Houston vs Arizona State opening odds
- Spread: Houston -12.5 (-110) | Arizona State +12.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Houston -850 | Arizona State +575
- Over/Under: Over 135.5 (-110) | Under 135.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Houston vs Arizona State betting trend to know
Arizona State is 5-0 O/U in its last five games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Houston vs. Arizona State.
How to watch Houston vs Arizona State
| Location | Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, AZ |
| Date | Tuesday, 2-18-2025 |
| Tip-off | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN2 |
Houston vs Arizona State 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.
