Analysis of Houston vs Arizona Matchup: Predictions, Picks, and Odds for February 15th

• The #6 Houston Cougars are slight 1.5-point favorites Saturday when they visit the #13 Arizona Wildcats
• Houston sits first in the Big 12, with Arizona in second
• See the Houston vs Arizona odds, predictions and player props, below

It’s a biggie in the Big 12 Saturday, when the sixth-ranked Houston Cougars (20-4, 12-1 Big 12) visits the 13th-ranked Arizona Wildcats (17-7, 11-2 Big 12), in a matchup of the top two teams in the conference. It’s the first meeting for these two schools that are now in the Big 12, since the Sweet 16 of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The visitors are slight favorites in the college basketball odds, when this one tips off at2pm ET from the McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, AZ. ESPN is providing the broadcast coverage.

Houston vs Arizona Odds

Arizona is currently a 1.5-point underdog in a contest with a total of 138. It’s tight on the moneyline as well, with the Cougars set at -125 favorites, and Arizona at +105. Arizona has won and covered four straight at home, while Houston is 4-2-0 against the spread on the road this year.

Odds as of Feb. 14 at Caesars. Check out SBD’s Caesars Sportsbook review to see the available sign-up bonuses.

Houston vs Arizona Predictions

• OVer 138 points (-110) at Caesars

You’ll be hard pressed to find a team as complete as the Houston Cougars, a team that ranks third overall in KenPom. Along with Duke, they are one of only two schools that ranks inside the Top 6 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. They currently hold a Top 4 spit in the March Madness odds.

The Cougars are coming off a 76-65 win against Baylor, giving them wins in 16 of their last 17 outings.

Defense is the name of their game, as they rank first in the Big 12 in defensive scoring, allowing just 57.3 per contest. Houston ranks sixth in the nation in field goal defense, limiting teams to just 38.2% shooting.

During this dominant run, the Cougars have allowed just five teams to break the 60-point plateau, and only two have crossed the 80-point threshold. One of those included a win over Kansas that went to double OT.

If there is a concern, it’s that each of those scoring outbursts have come in the last eight games, all in conference play.

If there’s a team that can puncture the Houston defense, it’s the Wildcats, who lead the Big 12 in scoring, pouring in 82.3 points per game.

The Wildcats did hit a snag last time out, however, dropping a 73-70 decision to the Kansas State Wildcats, a game in which Arizona shot a dismal 2-for-22 from 3-point range, a 9.1% clip. They also turned it over 17 times, leading to 23 KState points.

Could that be the outlier, though? Prior to that loss, Arizona was on a run where it won 13 of 14, and the offense was humming, breaking the 80-point barrier nine times, and cracking 90 points four others.

Houston isn’t a slouch offensively, as they average 75.8 points per game. If the defense can’t lock down the Wildcats, the Cougars’ 3-point shooting should allow them to run alongside them. They rank first in the Big 12, raining triples at a 39.4% average. Arizona, meanwhile, is second-last in the conference, at 31.8%.

And that plays right into betting the total. The Cougars have cashed the Over in five of their last six, while the Wildcats have hit the Over in four of the last five.

Houston vs Arizona Player Props

College basketball player props from FanDuel Sportsbook on Feb 14.

• Caleb Love Over 15.5 Points (+102) at FanDuel

Switching over to the player props market, and it Wildcats guard Caleb Love should be on the bouneback after a brutal performance against Kansas State. The senior guard shot 3-for-15 from the field, including 0-for-7 from 3-point range, finishing with just six points, tying his season low.

That halted a streak where Love had topped his 15.5 line in five of his previous six games. He’s also shown up in the last couple of games against ranked opponents, dropping 16 against then-13th ranked Texas Tech, and 22 against Iowa State who were ranked third at the time.

The Houston Rockets will face off against the Phoenix Suns on February 15th in what is expected to be an exciting matchup between two Western Conference teams. Both teams have had their fair share of ups and downs this season, but they are both looking to secure a win in this game.

The Rockets currently sit at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with a record of 13-41. They have struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout the season, but they have shown flashes of potential with their young core of players. Christian Wood has been a bright spot for the Rockets, averaging 21.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. John Wall and Eric Gordon have also been key contributors for Houston, providing veteran leadership and scoring.

On the other hand, the Suns have been one of the surprise teams of the season, currently sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference with a record of 35-14. Led by All-Star guard Devin Booker and veteran point guard Chris Paul, the Suns have been one of the top teams in the league this season. Deandre Ayton has also been a force in the paint for Phoenix, averaging a double-double with 14.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

In terms of predictions for this matchup, the Suns are favored to win this game given their strong record and depth of talent. However, the Rockets have shown that they can compete with top teams in the league when they are firing on all cylinders. It will be important for Houston to limit turnovers and play solid defense against a potent Suns offense.

As for picks, taking the Suns to win straight up may be the safest bet, but betting on the Rockets to cover the spread could also be a good option given their ability to keep games close. The over/under for this game is set at 223 points, and with both teams capable of putting up points, taking the over may be a wise choice.

In terms of odds, the Suns are currently listed as 10-point favorites, with the moneyline set at -500 for Phoenix and +400 for Houston. The odds may shift leading up to game time, so it’s important to keep an eye on any changes before placing any bets.

Overall, this matchup between the Rockets and Suns has the potential to be an exciting game with playoff implications for both teams. It will be interesting to see how each team performs and if they can execute their game plan to secure a much-needed win.