Houston vs Baylor Odds, Predictions & Player Props (Feb. 23)

• #2 Houston travels to #11 Baylor on Saturday
• Houston sits atop the Big 12 Standings, while Baylor is currently fourth in the conference
• See the Houston vs Baylor odds, player props, and predictions on Feb. 23

Two of the top teams in Big 12 battle in a heavyweight bout Saturday at noon ET as Houston travels to Baylor.  Both of these top-15 teams will be well-rested with Houston’s last game being Monday and Baylor’s last game being Tuesday. Houston defeated Iowa State by eight at home on Monday, and Baylor lost 78-71 at BYU on Tuesday.

The college basketball odds have the Cougars listed as 2.5-point road favorites on Saturday. The O/U is set at 136.5.

Houston vs Baylor Odds

Odds as of Feb. 23 at DraftKings. Lock in a sign up bonus for DraftKings to get a No Sweat First Bet Up to $1,000 for Houston vs Baylor.

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The spread suggests what bettors and college basketball fans already thought: this will be a close game. Not only are both of these teams ranked in the top 15, but they are both in the top 15 in the KenPom ratings. Houston is the No. 1 team in adjusted efficiency, and Baylor is No. 14.

The Big 12 has been one of, if not, the top conference in basketball this season. The ten teams with the best odds to win the National Championship include three from the Big 12. Houston has the best odds in the conference, and the third-best overall to win March Madness at +850 odds.

Houston Betting Trends

The Cougars have found success in their first season in the Big 12. Houston is in sole possession of first place in the conference with a 23-3 record. They are 10-3 in conference play, with all three of their losses coming on the road. 

Houston is a perfect 50% against the spread this season, compiling a record of 12-12-2. The Cougars have covered the spread just once in their last six games, however. 

The No. 2 team in the country has been your typical Houston team this year. They suffocate you with their defense and score just enough to win. The Cougars are ranked first in college basketball this year in scoring defense. They are allowing just 55.3 points per game. Houston is also a strong offensive-rebounding team, which complements their defense well. The Cougars are ranked fourth in offensive rebounds per game with 14.62.

Baylor Betting Trends

Baylor is currently in fourth place in a loaded Big 12. The Bears have a 19-7 record and have gone 8-5 in Big 12 play. They have been a different team at home, where they have a 13-1 record. Their only loss in Waco was an overtime thriller against TCU. Baylor has one of the better ATS records in college basketball as they have gone 15-8-2 (65.2%) against the spread this season. 

The Bears are almost the complete opposite of this Houston team. They win with their offense. They are ranked fourth in adjusted offensive efficiency and ranked fourth in three point percentage (39.62%). Baylor averages 82.6 points per game, which is good for 22nd in the country. 

Baylor’s defense can be exploited, however, as they rank 86th in defensive efficiency.

Houston vs Baylor Player Props

College basketball player props from DraftKings.

Despite LJ Cryer leading Houston in scoring, Jamal Shead has the highest points prop of this game at 15.5 Cryer averages 15.0 points per game, and his prop is listed at 12.5 against Baylor. Jawan Roberts has the highest rebounding line in this game at 6.5, which is right on his average of 7 rebounds per game. One of the few players that has an assist prop is Jamal Shead, who averages 5.8 per game and leads his team in that category, Shead’s prop is right there at 5.5, but the over is +105.

Ja’Kobe Walter is the leading scorer for Baylor’s high-octane offense. Walter averages 14.4 points per game, and his prop against Houston’s defense is 13.5. RayJ Dennis leads the Bears in assists, averaging 6.6 per game, and his prop currently sits at 5.5 but is juiced to the over.

Houston vs Baylor Prediction

This game is a perfect example of when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force. All eyes will be on Baylor’s offense vs. Houston’s defense. The Bears are going to shoot a lot of threes in this one and have a chance to pull away. At the same time, however, Houston is strong in guarding the three, so if Baylor struggles, Houston will likely close it out and move to 11-3 in conference play.

While it is never easy going against the No. 2 team in the country, I am rolling with the home team. Home-court advantage has always been a factor in college basketball, but it seems that this year it has an even bigger impact. All of Houston’s losses have been on the road, and Baylor is 13-1 in Waco this season. In a prime Saturday spot, the fans in Waco will be ready to make some noise. 

The home-court advantage plus Baylor’s offense is why the Bears will at least keep this game close. While Houston has a good three point defense, they do allow their opponents to shoot the three often. If the Bears do what they’ve done all season behind the arc, they will be right in this one. Baylor’s defense has not been great, but they should be able to make enough stops against Houston’s offense.

Jayden Nunn’s three point prop offers value. The Bears have shown time and time again that they are not afraid to shoot the three, and Nunn is no different. His prop is currently just 1.5, and the over has +110 odds. Nunn has made at least two three pointers in three of his last four games, including games with 5 and 6 made from behind the arc. He has also made at least two in two of his last three home games. At plus-money, Nunn is a solid bet, despite Houston’s defense.

Picks: 

• Baylor +2.5
• Jayden Nunn Over 1.5 3PM (+110)