The Kansas State Wildcats (14-5) travel to face off against the Houston Cougars (17-2) on Saturday, January 27th. This game will be played at Fertitta Center in Houston and televised on ESPN. Houston is coming off a win in their previous game, while Kansas State is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Iowa State. Tip-off is set for 12:00 ET.
Kansas State Wildcats vs Houston Cougars
The Kansas State Wildcats Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
After losing their last game to Iowa State by a score of 78-67, Kansas State is 14-5 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12. So far, they have gone 10-3 outside of conference play and 4-3 on the road. Their average scoring margin on the road is +3.0.
As the underdog, the Wildcats have gone 3-4 compared to their 11-1 record as the favorite. They have been the underdog in seven of their 19 games. Currently, they have a two-game losing streak on the road, and their record in their last 10 road games is 5-5.
As the underdog, Kansas State has gone 4-3 vs. the spread this season. On the road, the Wildcats have an ATS mark of 5-2, including a 2-1 mark in their last three road games.
So far this season, the over/under record for Kansas State games is 9-10. Today’s over/under line of 128.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games this year (145.4). Over their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 with an average scoring total of 137 points.
The Houston Cougars Are Coming Off A Win
Coming into this game, Houston has been dominant at home this season, going 12-0 with an average scoring margin of +31.8 points per game. They are currently on a 12-game winning streak at home, and they have won their last three games overall.
So far this season, the Cougars have been favored in 18 of their 19 games, going 16-2 in those contests. They are 17-2 overall, including a 13-0 record in non-conference games.
As the favorite, Houston has gone 10-8 vs. the spread this season, including a 5-5 mark in their last 10 games as the favorite. At home, the Cougars are 8-4 vs. the spread this season and 7-3 in their last 10 home games. Overall, Houston has an ATS record of 10-8 this year.
So far this season, the over/under record for Houston’s games is 6-12. The average scoring total in their games this year is 126.5 points, and today’s over/under line is set at 128.5 points. Across their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1, and the average scoring total in those games is 123 points.
Kansas State Offense Breakdown
Against Iowa State, the Kansas State had a tough time putting up points compared to their season average of 74.1 points per game. They scored 67 points and posted a field goal percentage of 44.9% in the game. Leading the team in scoring was Arthur Kaluma with 16 points. Cam Carter also added 12 points for the Wildcats.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cam Carter (G) | 16.3 | 4.7 | 2.8 |
| Tylor Perry (G) | 14.5 | 3.1 | 5.1 |
| Arthur Kaluma (F) | 15.2 | 7.6 | 2.0 |
Houston Offense Breakdown
In their recent matchup, the Houston offense ended with 75 points against BYU. They finished with an overall field goal percentage of 40.7% and made 10 threes. The top scorer for the Cougars was LJ Cryer with 23 points, while Jamal Shead also added 16 to the scoreboard.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| LJ Cryer (G) | 15.6 | 2.7 | 1.9 |
| Emanuel Sharp (G) | 12.3 | 3.7 | 0.8 |
| Jamal Shead (G) | 11.4 | 3.9 | 6.0 |
Kansas State Team Defense
So far this season, the Kansas State defense has been performing well, ranking 80th in the country at 67.8 points allowed per contest. On average, opposing teams are hitting 7.5 threes per game vs. Houston. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 31.8%.
Houston Team Defense
The Cougars’ defense is presently ranked 1st nationally, allowing an average of 51.9 points per contest. So far, the Houston defense is giving up an average of 8.3 offensive rebounds per game and are turning teams over 8.5 times per game (356th).
Wildcats vs Cougars Trends
- When looking at their past five road matchups, Kansas State has an ATS record of 4-1 while averaging 70 per game. The team went 3-2 overall in these games.
- In their last ten games at home, the Cougars have a straight up record of 8-2 while going 2-7 vs. the spread. The team averaged 69 points per game in this stretch.
- The last ten games that Kansas State was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 6-4 while going 5-5 straight up.
- As the betting favorite, the Cougars have an ATS record of 2-1 in their last three games. In these matchups, their straight up record was 3-0.
Wildcats vs Cougars Prediction
When looking to get a point-spread pick down in this Cougars vs. Cougars game, our recommendation is to take the Cougars at -14.5. Despite our model showing the Cougars winning 76-68, we like Wildcats as our point-spread pick.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 128.5 and our model has the Wildcats and Cougars finishing with a combined 144 points. Our pick is to take 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 27, 2024 Houston Cougars, Kansas State Wildcats