Houston vs. Cincinnati Prediction
An excellent matchup in the AAC will take place on Saturday evening when Cincinnati hosts Houston at 6:00 p.m. ET. Will the Cougars pull off the small upset or will the Bearcats win their 10th game at home this season while also covering as a small home favorite?
Game Snapshot
737 Houston (+3) at 738 Cincinnati (-3); o/u 135
6:00 p.m. ET, February 1, 2020
Fifth Third Arena
Our NCAA College Basketball Live Odds page pulls spreads and totals from multiple different online sportsbooks so you can compare betting odds to ensure you’re getting the best line.
Public Betting Trends
According to our College Basketball Public Betting Chart page, 60% of betting tickets are on Cincinnati to cover the spread in this matchup.
Houston Player Spotlight
Cedrick Alley had two points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt) over five minutes in Thursday’s 63-59 win against UConn. Alley’s role diminished at the end of the 2018-19 season after beginning the year with a spot in the starting five, and that decreased role has carried over into this season. The redshirt sophomore is averaging just 1.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game over his first 14 appearances.
Cincinnati Player Spotlight
Jarron Cumberland amassed 28 points (9-13 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 6-7 FT), nine rebounds, four assists and two steals in 33 minutes Tuesday in Cincinnati’s 65-43 win over SMU. In a low-tempo affair in which the Bearcats’ airtight defense limited the Mustangs to a season-worst 25.9 percent from the field, Cumberland still managed to turn in his best outing of the campaign. After functioning as the engine of the Cincinnati offense throughout 2018-19, Cumberland has ceded more usage to the likes of Chris Vogt and Keith Williams this season and has seen his overall numbers tail off as a result, but the senior has been shouldering more responsibility of late. He’s now averaging 18.3 points, 5.7 assists, 4.5 boards and 2.3 triples over his last six games, well above his season-long marks in each category.
NCAA College Basketball Betting Trends
Houston
The under is a perfect 6-0 in the Cougars’ last six games overall and is 7-2 in their last nine games when they’re listed as an underdog.
Cincinnati
The under is 4-1 in the Bearcats’ last five games as a home favorite.
Prediction
The underdog has cashed in four of the last five meetings between these two teams and I like the dog again in this spot tonight. The Cougars are 9-2 against the spread in their last 11 games when listed as an underdog, are 9-3 in their last 12 games overall and have covered in 19 of their last 26 road games. The Bearcats, meanwhile, are just 5-16 against the spread in their last 21 games coming off a win and are 2-6 against the number in their last eight home games when facing an opponent with a road winning percentage of greater than .600.
Saturday NCAA College Basketball Prediction: Houston Cougars +3