- Houston embarrassed Utah on Wednesday, blowing them out to win 70-36.
- Kansas held off TCU on the road, defeating them 74-61, and rising to 14-4.
- These two teams last met on March 9, in a game that Houston won 76-46.
The college basketball season is heating up as March approaches! In our Houston vs Kansas pick, the Jayhawks seek revenge on a Cougars team that has usurped them as the Big-12’s strongest squad.
Houston Aims to Stay Red-Hot
Houston nearly lost to UCF last weekend, surviving by just one point. They learned their lesson and then some, barnstorming Utah in a 34-point win just a few days later. Houston’s defense remains ranked near the very top and their offense has been improving. Their 7-0 start in Big-12 play is impressive.
Doubling up Utah and holding them under 40 is certainly impressive, but Houston is in need of signature wins against teams like Kansas. They have no ranked wins, having lost both games they played against ranked opposition. In order to avoid an early exit in the tourney, they need to beat ranked teams.
Kansas Still Lacking Offense
Kansas trailed TCU at halftime on Wednesday before pulling away in the 2nd half. Their offense continues to be a bit of a question mark. The Jayhawks rank 144th in the nation in points per game, a far cry from their usual level of play. With a strong but not amazing defense, Kansas is in danger of an early exit.
This game against Houston is a great chance for Hunter Dickinson and the Jayhawks to prove they can still hang with premier competition. A win would show they aren’t ready to give up the Big-12 crown yet, even after a 17-point loss to Iowa State last week. Their offense will be tested against Houston.
#7 Houston Cougars vs #12 Kansas Jayhawks Pick
The biggest advantage for Kansas in this game will be their home-court advantage. It’s very difficult to overcome being on the road in college basketball. That being said, the Jayhawks match up poorly with Houston. Against a Cougars defense that is among the nation’s best, they are certain to face difficulties. I expect Kansas to keep it somewhat close for a while, before struggling to keep up and losing by about 10.
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