The Houston Cougars (19-2) travel to face off against the Kansas Jayhawks (17-4) on Saturday, February 3rd. This game will be played at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence and televised on ESPN. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Tip-off is set for 4:00 ET.
Houston Cougars vs Kansas Jayhawks
The Houston Cougars Are Coming Off A Win
Heading into their matchup with Kansas, Houston has been on a roll. They have won four straight games, and their overall record stands at 19-2. The Cougars have been especially dominant at home, where they are a perfect 13-0 this season.
On the road, Houston has gone 4-2, and they have an average scoring margin of +3.7 points per game. So far, they have been the favorite in 19 of their 21 games, and their record as the favorite is 17-2.
As the favorite this season, Houston has an ATS record of 11-8. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Cougars have gone 6-4 vs. the spread. On the road, their ATS mark is 2-4 this year and they are just 2-7 ATS in their last 10 games away from home.
So far this season, the over/under record for Houston games is 6-13. The average scoring total in their games this year is 126.5 points, which is lower than the average over/under line in their games of 133.3. Today’s over/under line of 134 is similar to the average scoring total in their games this year. In their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 and the average scoring total is 139 points.
The Kansas Jayhawks Are Coming Off A Win
Today, the Kansas Jayhawks are 17-4 overall and 5-3 in the Big 12. They are 12-0 at home, where they have won 12 straight games.
Recently, the Jayhawks have been dominant at home, going 10-0 in their last 10 games. This season, they have outscored opponents by an average of 16.1 points per game at home, compared to just 5.6 points per game on the road.
As the underdog, Kansas has gone 1-0 vs. the spread this season and is 5-5 in their last 10 games as the underdog. Overall, the Jayhawks have an ATS record of 9-12 this year and are 6-6 vs. the spread at home. In their last three home games, Kansas is 2-1 vs. the spread.
Today’s over/under line of 134 is lower than the average OU line in Kansas’ games this season (145.5) and their over/under record is 10-11. Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 144 points and their OU record during that span is 1-2. So far, 16 of their games have finished with more points than today’s OU line.
Houston Offense Breakdown
In their latest game, Houston offense put up 74 points against Kansas State. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 40% and made 7 threes. Jamal Shead led the team in scoring, putting up 17 points. Additionally, J’Wan Roberts contributed 14 points for the Cougars.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| LJ Cryer (G) | 15.1 | 2.6 | 1.9 |
| Jamal Shead (G) | 12.3 | 3.9 | 5.8 |
| Emanuel Sharp (G) | 12.2 | 4.0 | 1.0 |
Kansas Offense Breakdown
In their latest game, Kansas offense put up 83 points against Oklahoma State. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 57.6% and made 8 threes. KJ Adams Jr. was the leading scorer for the Jayhawks, putting up 16 points. In addition, Hunter Dickinson contributed 16 points.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin McCullar Jr. (G) | 19.8 | 6.3 | 4.7 |
| Hunter Dickinson (C) | 18.7 | 11.2 | 2.0 |
| KJ Adams Jr. (F) | 12.8 | 4.7 | 3.2 |
Houston Team Defense
So far, the Cougars’ defense is ranked 1st in the country at 52.9 points per contest. In today’s game vs. Kansas, the Houston defense will be looking to do a better job avoiding putting opponents on the line. In their last game, Houston made 23 free-throws vs. the Cougars.
Kansas Team Defense
So far, the Jayhawks’ defense is ranked 81st in the country at 67.6 points per contest. Against Oklahoma State in their most recent game, the Kansas defense gave up a total of 54 points while allowing Oklahoma State to hit 57% of their shots.
Cougars vs Jayhawks Trends
- Although Houston has a straight up record of 2-1 in their last three road games, they have not held up as well vs. the spread going 1-2. The team averaged 72 points per game in these games.
- Kansas has a 1-2 record in their last three home games. In this stretch, they averaged 83 points per game while allowing 78. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1.
- Looking back on the team’s last five games as the underdog, the Jayhawks have a straight up record of 2-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 3-2.
- The last ten games that Houston was favored, they have an ATS mark of 6-4 while going 8-2 straight up.
Cougars vs Jayhawks Prediction
Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +2, the Jayhawks is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.
As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 134, and our model projects the Cougars and Jayhawks to reach a combined total of 142 points. Our bet is on taking the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:February 3, 2024 Houston Cougars, Kansas Jayhawks