The Houston Cougars (17-3) travel to face off against the West Virginia Mountaineers (13-6) on Wednesday, January 29th. This game will be played at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown and televised on ESPN+. Houston is coming off a win in their previous game, while West Virginia is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Kansas State. Tip-off is set for 7:00 ET.
Houston Cougars vs West Virginia Mountaineers
The Cougars Are Coming Off A Win
Houston Cougars Recent Game/Games
Houston improved to 17-3 on the season with a 92-86 win over Kansas on Saturday. The Cougars were -1 favorites going into the game and covered the spread with the victory.
After trailing 38-31 at halftime, Houston’s defense stepped up, allowing just 28 points in the 2nd half while scoring 35. The game’s total points of 178 went well over the 127.5 O/U line.
The Mountaineers Are Coming Off A Win
West Virginia Mountaineers Recent Game/Games
West Virginia fell to 13-6 on the season after a 73-60 road loss to Kansas State on Saturday, January 25th. The Mountaineers entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 133, just over the O/U line of 130.5.
West Virginia struggled in the first half, trailing 42-18 at the break. They improved in the second half, scoring 42 points while holding Kansas State to 31, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
Cougars Offense Breakdown
The Cougars put up 92 points in their last game, shooting 47.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 53.4%. They hit 56.2% of their two-point attempts, while connecting on 32% from beyond the arc, going 8-for-25 from three-point range.
Rylan Griffen led the way from deep, hitting 5-of-6 threes and finishing with 17 points. J’Wan Roberts contributed 24 points and 9 rebounds, and Mylik Wilson added 18 points, shooting 72.7% from the field.
Mountaineers Offense Breakdown
West Virginia struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 36.8% from the field and 19% from three-point range, hitting only 4 of 21 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 39.7%, and they managed to score 60 points, with 14 assists and 14 offensive rebounds.
Javon Small led the Mountaineers with 22 points, shooting 43.8% overall and 50% from three. Dug McDaniel added 15 points and 6 assists, while David N’Guessan contributed 14 points, hitting 62.5% of his shots.
Cougars Team Defense
Houston’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 86 points on 45% shooting from the field. The Cougars allowed their opponents to connect on 51% of their two-point attempts, as they went 21/41 from inside the arc.
From three-point range, Houston’s defense conceded 9 threes on 25 attempts, a 36% shooting clip. They also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 30 times, where they hit 17 free throws for 56%. The Cougars gave up 11 offensive rebounds.
Mountaineers Team Defense
The Cougars gave up 86 points on 45% shooting from the field, as their defense struggled to contain the opposition. They allowed 21 two-point field goals on 41 attempts, with the other team shooting 51% from inside the arc.
From three-point range, the Cougars’ defense allowed 9 made threes on 25 attempts, a 36% shooting clip. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 30 times, where they converted 17 of those attempts for 56%. Houston gave up 11 offensive rebounds in the game.
Cougars vs Mountaineers Trends
- The Cougars are 2-1 ATS in their three last road games and 3-0 straight-up.
- Across their ten previous home games, West Virginia has an ATS mark of 5-4-1. Their straight up record in these matchups was 4-6 while averaging 69 points per game.
- As the betting underdog, the Mountaineers have an ATS mark of just 2-2-1 in their last five games. West Virginia posted a straight up mark of 2-3 in these matchups.
- Through their last three games as the favorite, the Cougars have an ATS record of 2-1 and a straight up mark of 3-0.
Cougars vs Mountaineers Prediction
As the underdogs with a spread of +7.5, we recommend going with the Mountaineers 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.
Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 122.5 and given that our model is projecting 145 points between the teams, we like 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:January 29, 2025 Houston Cougars, West Virginia Mountaineers