Throughout the history of the programs, Houston and Arizona have played each other 11 times, but never in a March Madness matchup. Although the last meeting was back in 2009, it's not surprising that the most recent games between the two have belonged to the Wildcats. Arizona won the last three games between the two going back to 2006, but when they play again in the Sweet 16 of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, this will be a much better Cougars program than the No. 1 seed Wildcats have ever seen.
Houston fans should be out in full force on Thursday night when the game tips off at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, at 9:59 p.m. ET. The Wildcats are narrow 1.5-point favorites in the latest Arizona vs. Houston odds at Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under is set at 146.5 points. Before making any Houston vs. Arizona picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of over $1,300 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Arizona vs. Houston and revealed its coveted picks and predictions for the NCAA Tournament 2022. You can head to SportsLine to see all of the model's college basketball picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Houston vs. Arizona:
- Arizona vs. Houston spread: Wildcats -1.5
- Arizona vs. Houston over-under: 146.5 points
- Arizona vs. Houston money line: Cougars +105, Wildcats -125
- ARIZ: The over is 7-1 in Arizona's last eight overall
- HOU: The Cougars are 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall
Why Arizona can cover
Sophomore forward Azuolas Tubelis is second on the team in points (14.2) and rebounds (6.3), while making 55 percent of his attempts from the floor. Tubelis gives Arizona a scoring threat in the paint, logging 20-plus points in seven games. On March 11, the native of Lithuania had 20 points, 11 rebounds and three steals against Colorado.
Junior center Christian Koloko provides more size and physicality to the frontcourt for Arizona. He is averaging 12.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. Koloko has recorded 10 double-doubles on the year, including three straight. He is coming off a monster performance, finishing with a career-high 28 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks against TCU.
Why Houston can cover
Despite losing one of their best players for the year earlier this season in junior guard Marcus Sasser (foot), the No. 5 seed Cougars still have a three-headed offensive attack between Kyler Edwards, Jamal Shead and Fabian White Jr. Even though Illinois managed to shut White down in his last start, he scored 34 total points with nine rebounds over the two previous games. Edwards finished the regular season as the Cougars' leading offensive producer, and since the start of the AAC conference tournament, he has averaged 16 points with seven rebounds and 4.2 assists over five games.
Shead could prove to be the x-factor for Houston, as he has also stepped up his game since the first game of the conference tourney. He has averaged 12 points with 5.8 assists and 1.2 steals over his last five outings. Houston already allowed the fewest made shots per game in the nation, with 19.8, and defensively, Arizona will have some tough decisions to make with so many offensive options at the Cougars' disposal.
How to make Houston vs. Arizona picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the point total. The model also says one side of the spread hits more than 60 percent of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Arizona vs. Houston? And which side of the spread hits more than 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.
