The Houston Cougars travel to Allen Fieldhouse to play the Kansas Jayhawks in a huge Big Monday matchup set to tip off on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. CT tonight. Both teams are still in the mix to win the Big 12 regular-season title, and this will be a massive game for the league standings. Kansas (10-4 CONF) enters the game one game back of Houston, who sits at 11-3 in league play, though both programs have some ground to make up on 12-2 Arizona. Here’s a preview, prediction, key storylines, and updated odds to keep an eye on in this matchup as we get set for today’s game.
Kansas vs. Houston Basketball Updated Odds
The Houston Cougars opened as 1.5-point favorites, with an over/under total points set at 135.5 total points. The Houston vs. Kansas injury report did not change the line much on Sunday night. And by Monday afternoon, the Cougars were up to a 2-point favorite in some sports books, with the point total creeping up to 137.5 or 138.
Key Storyline: A Key Bounce Back
This week, both Kansas and Houston will be looking to bounce back after dropping their previous game. The Cougars fell to No. 4 Arizona, 73-66, while Kansas suffered an awful upset, losing at home to Cincinnati, 84-68. Needless to say, both teams need this game if they plan on contending for the regular-season title. Another added detail that fans of both programs will be reminded of is the last time these two programs met in Lawrence. Houston rallied off one of the most-improbable comebacks of the decade, and Kansas fell in one of the worst ways possible.
Match Up to Watch: Kansas Offense vs. Houston Defense
It feels weird to say this, but Kansas’ offense is actually one of the worst units in the league this season. They check in with the 13th-best offense in the Big 12, only ahead of West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Utah. Meantime, Houston is back to what they do best: defending at a high level. Not only does Houston have the best defense of anyone in the league, but they also have the second-best unit in the country. Kansas will have its hands full if Darryn Peterson doesn’t go nuclear out of the gates.
Prediction: Houston 68, Kansas 64
This game is going to be close. It’s at Allen Fieldhouse, and both teams need to win. I wouldn’t exactly predict a repeat of last year’s game in Lawrence, but I do think Houston’s defense is going to be the difference-maker. After getting smacked at home by Cincinnati, it feels like Kansas’ day will either go one of two ways: incredible or incredibly bad. Give me the more consistent team in the contest, even though Houston’s on the road.
