Published Mar 14, 1:54am ET by
Gabriel Kozlow - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 14, 1:54am ET
Updated Mar 14, 1:54am ET
Two of the top NCAA basketball teams meet in the Big 12 semifinals as the Houston Cougars take on the Arizona Wildcats. The game will be played at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City and will be televised on ESPN.
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| ARIZONA WILDCATS | -2.5 (-105) |
| HOUSTON COUGARS | +2.5 (-105) |
Houston is coming off an impressive defensive performance against Kansas in its latest win. Now, the Cougars have to worry about an elite offensive side that is regarded as one of the best teams in the country at the moment. Their last meeting came in January, when Arizona beat them by five points.
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Houston currently ranks top 3 in points allowed, top 5 in defensive efficiency, and top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio. Much of that success is thanks to its defensive core of Chris Cenac, Kingston Flemings, and Joseph Tugler.
Arizona escaped Iowa State in the quarterfinals with a buzzer-beating win by Jaden Bradley. That victory gave the Wildcats their eighth straight win and a trip to the semifinals for another tough test against Houston. Arizona is projected to have excellent March Madness odds and will most likely land a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats are averaging 86.5 PPG while allowing just 68.6 PPG to opponents. Their field goal percentage is an impressive 50%, and they are also pulling down a whopping 43.1 RPG, showing their dominance on the glass. Braden Burries and Jaden Bradley will once again need to prove their worth if Arizona wants to beat Houston’s tough defense.
Arizona will be favored in Kansas City at -2.5 on the spread. The over/under is 138.5, with moneylines of -155 for Arizona and +130 for Houston. The Wildcats may be a bit more tired from their previous matchup, which could be a factor.
Both teams will be advancing to the NCAA Tournament, but their seeding will likely depend on this outcome. We believe Houston has what it takes defensively, but not offensively, which is why we’re taking Arizona -2.5.
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Pick
Arizona Wildcats -2.5
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