Number 7 Houston heads to Lawrence to face #12 Kansas on Saturday night. The game is at 6:30 PM ET on ESPN. Can Kansas cover the 2-point spread as home underdogs? Keep reading for our Houston vs. Kansas prediction.
The Houston Cougars are 15-3 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 9-8 ATS this season.
The Kansas Jayhawks are 14-4 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 10-8 ATS this season.
Houston vs. Kansas Matchup & Betting Odds
765 Houston Cougars (-2) at 766 Kansas Jayhawks (+2); o/u 127.5
6:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, January 25, 2025
Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS
TV: ESPN
Houston vs. Kansas Public Betting Information
Our CBB Public Betting Information page indicates that 71% of public bettors are currently backing Houston when it comes to the spread. This information is subject to change throughout the day, however, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Houston Cougars Game Notes
Cougars guard Milos Uzan was excellent in his team’s 70-36 blowout win over Utah on Wednesday. The Oklahoma transfer put up 14 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, and 1 steal in 25 minutes. Uzan shot 6 of 9 from the floor and 2 of 4 from beyond the arc in the victory.
Houston guard Emanuel Sharp is questionable to play on Saturday due to an undisclosed injury. Sharp is tied for the team lead in scoring with 13.8 points per game this season. He last played on January 18th and missed the team’s game against Utah on Wednesday.
Kansas Jayhawks Game Notes
Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson had a fantastic game in his team’s 74-61 win over TCU on Wednesday night. The senior from Alexandria, VA recorded 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists in 33 minutes. Dickinson shot 7 of 10 from the field and 2 of 2 from the foul line in the win.
Kansas forward KJ Adams Jr. will sit out Saturday’s contest with a shoulder injury. Adams is averaging 8.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 28.7 minutes per contest for the Jayhawks this year.
Kansas has started freshman forward Flory Bidunga in Adams’ place the past two games. He figures to draw another start against Houston on Saturday.
Houston vs. Kansas CBB Betting Trends
Houston is 4-9 ATS as the road team since the start of last season.
The Cougars are 21-23-2 ATS after a win since the beginning of last season.
Kansas is 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Kansas is 2-0 ATS as a home underdog since the start of the 2020 season.
Houston vs. Kansas CBB Prediction:
Houston is on a hot streak right now, but that could be due to the quality of their opponents. The Cougars have won 11 straight games. The best teams they’ve faced during that stretch have been 13-5 West Virginia, 12-6 BYU, and 11-7 Utah. It goes without saying that facing 14-4 Kansas in Lawrence will pose a different type of challenge.
The Jayhawks are almost never underdogs at home. Since the start of the 2020 season, Kansas is 120-38 straight up at Allen Fieldhouse. That record ranks eighth in the country over that span. Dating back to 2003, the Jayhawks have been home underdogs just 3 times. Kansas is 2-1 ATS in those contests.
Last year’s game between these two teams in Lawrence might be instructive as well. The Jayhawks hosted the Cougars last February. Kansas was favored by 1 point in that contest and won the game easily, 78-65. I think the Jayhawks earn another outright win or come very close to doing so on Saturday night. Kansas and the points are the pick.