West Virginia at Houston odds, picks and predictions
The No. 3 Houston Cougars (13-0) make their Big 12 debut against the West Virginia Mountaineers (5-8) Saturday. Tip-off from Fertitta Center is set for 2 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the West Virginia vs. Houston odds as we make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
West Virginia wrapped up its non-conference schedule with a 78-75 loss at the Ohio State Buckeyes last Saturday. It failed to cover as a 9-point favorite, and the Over (146) hit. Montana State transfer G RaeQuan Battle led the Mountaineers with 24 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. They will have to step up their game offensively to have any chance against the nation's top-rated defense.
Houston, which is No. 3 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll, plays its 1st Big 12 game Saturday after exiting the American Athletic Conference. The Cougars concluded their non-conference schedule undefeated with a resounding 81-42 victory over the Pennsylvania Quakers last Saturday. They covered the spread as a 27-point home favorite, and the game went Under (134). Four Cougars starters scored in double figures, led by senior G L.J. Cryer's 16 points. Houston is the only team in the country holding its opponents to under 50 points per game.
These teams have never met on the basketball court.
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West Virginia at Houston odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:05 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): West Virginia +1600 (bet $100 to win $1,600) | Houston -4500 (bet $4,500 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): West Virginia +20.5 (-104) | Houston -20.5 (-118)
- Over/Under (O/U): 134.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
West Virginia at Houston picks and predictions
Prediction
Houston 79, West Virginia 55
Moneyline
PASS.
You should obviously avoid betting Houston (-4500) because the odds are a bit high. Go look at the spread if you want to make a bet.
Against the spread
BET HOUSTON -20.5 (-118).
When you have a defense as good as Houston's, it's hard to bet against it. The Cougars get after it on defense and suffocate you.
"[The Cougars] are a very, very good defensive team and a very, very physical team," Mountaineers coach Josh Eilert told reporters Thursday. "Obviously, taking care of the ball is going to be important, and if we do have a turnover, we've got to make sure it's not a live-ball turnover so we can get our defense set."
The Cougars are 6-2-1 ATS over their last 9 games. They are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games as favorites of 20.5 or more points. West Virginia is 2-6 ATS over its last 8.
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Over/Under
PASS.
My lean would be the Under because of how good Houston is on defense -- the Under is 10-3 in Cougars games this season.
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