The Houston Cougars (26-3) travel to face off against the UCF Knights (15-13) on Wednesday, March 6th. This game will be played at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando and televised on ESPN+. Houston is coming off a win in their previous game, while UCF is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Iowa State. Tip-off is set for 7:00 ET.
Houston Cougars vs UCF Knights
The Houston Cougars Are Coming Off A Win
Coming into today’s game, Houston is 26-3 overall and has won six games in a row. In their last game, they defeated Oklahoma by a score of 87-85. So far this season, they have gone 12-3 in Big 12 play and 14-0 in non-conference games.
On the road, the Cougars have gone 7-3, and they have won their last two games away from home. For the year, they have an average scoring margin of +2.0 points per game on the road.
As the favorite, Houston has gone 12-12-2 vs. the spread this season. On the road, their ATS mark is just 2-7-1 this year and over their last 10 road games, they are 2-7-1 vs. the spread.
Today’s over/under line of 130.5 is lower than the average over/under line in Houston’s games this season (132.8). So far, 13 of their games have finished with more points than today’s OU line. In their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 and the average scoring total in those games is 151 points.
The UCF Knights Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
UCF will enter this game as the underdog, as they have gone 4-9 in games where they are not favored this season. At home, the Knights have gone 12-6, compared to their 3-7 record on the road. So far, UCF has gone 15-13 on the year, including a 6-10 mark in Big 12 play. In their last game, they lost to Iowa State by a score of 60-52.
Through 28 games, UCF has an average scoring margin of +11.4 at home. Over their last 10 games at home, they have gone 6-4, and their record over their last five games at home is 2-3. For the year, they have gone 9-3 in non-conference games.
As the underdog, UCF has gone 7-5-1 against the spread this season. Their overall ATS record is 15-12-1. At home, the Knights are 10-7-1 vs. the spread this year and have gone 5-4-1 in their last 10 home games. As the underdog, UCF has gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 games vs. the spread.
So far this season, the over/under record for UCF games is 14-13-1, and today’s over/under line of 130.5 is lower than the average OU line in their games (138.7). Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 132 points, and in their last five games, it’s 138 points. For the season, 11 of their games have finished with fewer points than today’s OU line.
Houston Offense Breakdown
Houston’s offense is coming off a strong performance, scoring 87 points against Oklahoma. They had an overall field goal percentage of 56.7% and made 9/11 free throws. LJ Cryer is currently the leading scorer for the team, entering today’s matchup with an average of 15.5. Meanwhile, Jamal Shead also brings a PPG average of 13.1 into the game.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| LJ Cryer (G) | 15.5 | 2.3 | 1.9 |
| Jamal Shead (G) | 13.1 | 3.8 | 6.1 |
| Emanuel Sharp (G) | 12.7 | 3.8 | 0.9 |
UCF Offense Breakdown
The UCF offense is coming off a game in which they scored 52 points vs. Iowa State. Overall their field goal percentage was 42.6% while connecting on 1 three. The top scorer for the Knights was Jaylin Sellers with 13 points, while Shemarri Allen also chipped in with 11 points.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylin Sellers (G) | 16.2 | 3.6 | 1.1 |
| Darius Johnson (G) | 14.1 | 3.0 | 3.8 |
| Marchelus Avery (F) | 8.0 | 4.0 | 0.8 |
Houston Team Defense
Houston’s defense has been playing well, ranking 1st nationally, with 57.2 points allowed per game. Against Oklahoma in their most recent game, the Houston defense gave up a total of 85 points while allowing Oklahoma to hit 52% of their shots.
UCF Team Defense
So far, the Knights’ defense is ranked 44th in the country at 66.6 points per contest. In terms of field goal percentage allowed, UCF’s defense has allowed opponents to shoot 41.0% from the field, including a three-point shooting percentage allowed of 31.9% this season.
Cougars vs Knights Trends
- When looking at their past five road matchups, Houston has an ATS record of 1-3-1 while averaging 75 per game. The team went 4-1 overall in these games.
- Across the Knights last ten home games, the team averaged 67 points per game while allowing 74. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 5-5, while going 3-7 straight-up.
- Through their last three games as the betting underdog, the Knights have a strong record vs the spread going 2-1. Their straight up mark in these contests is 1-2.
- In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Cougars have a straight up record of 3-0, while going 1-2 against the spread.
Cougars vs Knights Prediction
As the underdogs with a spread of +8.5, we recommend going with the Knights on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.
Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 130.5, and our model predicts the Cougars and Knights to score a combined 142 points. We recommend betting on 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:March 6, 2024 Houston Cougars, UCF Knights