The Houston Cougars look every bit a contender for the national championship.
Houston is 28-4 on the season, ranked inside the top three in both KenPom and BartTorvik and is the third-favorite to win it all behind Duke and Auburn.
Houston is a known commodity.
BYU is not on the same level as Houston, but don’t be surprised if the Cougars end up as a popular sleeper pick after Selection Sunday.
Houston is a 6.5-point favorite over BYU in the Big 12 Semifinals on Friday evening.
Will Kelvin Sampson’s Coogs cruise into Saturday’s final?
Read about our favorite bet for BYU vs. Houston and check out an exclusive bonus code from BetMGM below.
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Houston vs. BYU odds
| Team | Spread | Odds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | +6.5 (-105) | +240 | o134.5 (-110) |
| BYU | -6.5 (-115) | -300 | u134.5 (-110) |
Houston vs. BYU prediction
(7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Houston is elite all over the court.
The Cougars grade out as the third-best defensive team according to KenPom’s model, but they can do it at the other end of the court, too.
KenPom has Houston ranked as the 10th-best offensive side in the nation.
But Houston’s best asset may be its ability to get games to be played on its terms. Sampson’s Cougars rank 360th in Adjusted Tempo, per KenPom.
There’s not getting around that Houston is one of the best teams in the country, but it will be tested against BYU, one of the most efficient offenses in the country, according to both KenPom and BartTorvik.
There’s a lot to like about BYU. Kevin Young has his team in great form at the exact right time, and the Cougars will be a team to circle when the bracket comes out on Selection Sunday.
The Cougars currently sit as high as 66/1 to win the national title, which seems like a great price for a team that ranks inside the top 10 according to some of the most respected power ratings in the sport.
Betting on College Basketball?
Houston vs. BYU Pick
This game projects as a rock fight.
Houston is the better team and should be able to handle BYU’s in-form offense, but the spread is just too wide to feel confident.
Instead, we’ll lean on Houston’s ability to slow games down and play the Under 134.5.
Pick: Under 134.5 (-110, BetMGM)
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Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
