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The Houston Cougars will look to improve upon their 22-2 record on Wednesday evening when they host the Golden Hurricanes of Tulsa. Wednesday’s matchup will be the second time the two teams meet on the season, with the first coming back in late December, which resulted in an 89-50 Cougars victory. Houston enters this matchup as a heavy favorite of over 25 points yet again, with the total currently set at 139 points.

The contest is scheduled for an 8:00 PM EST tip-off from the Fertitta Center and will be broadcast on ESPN Plus, so remember to check the college basketball lines before the game goes off the board.

Tulsa Golden Hurricanes at Houston Cougars College Basketball Preview

NCAAB Game Info

When: Thursday, February 9, 2023
Where: Fertitta Center, Houston, TX

Time: 8:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN+

Houston Cougars Overview

Kelvin Sampson’s club continues to be one of the most dominant forces in college basketball this season. The Cougars are one of the best teams in the nation and well-balanced on both sides of the court. The Houston Cougars rank within the top ten in both offensive and defensive efficiency metrics. They are also one of the best perimeter defensive teams in the nation, ranking fourth in the country in defending the three-point line.

The Cougars are one of the best teams in the American against the spread on the season with a 15-9 record ATS. However, Houston has been fairly mediocre on their home court at just 7-7 against the spread this season. They are actually underperforming the spread this season at home by -0.4 points per contest but have an impressive margin of victory number of +22.8 points.

Houston forward Jarace Walker has been on a tear lately, averaging 20 points and 5.5 rebounds per game over his last four contests. The five-star freshman is averaging nearly 12 points and over six rebounds per game on the season but has become a consistent force since the calendar flipped to the new year.

Tulsa Golden Hurricanes Overview

It’s been a difficult season for first-year Tulsa coach Eric Konkol as the Golden Hurricanes have notched just five victories on the season. Tulsa is just 1-10 in conference play this season and has just one win since December 21st. Surprisingly enough, that victory came against a Tulane group that is having themselves a quality season.

Not surprisingly, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane are the worst team in the AAC on the road this season. Tulsa has covered the number just once on the road this season and is underperforming the number by -5.7 points per contest. They also have the worst margin of victory in the conference at -15.3 points per game on the road. The Hurricanes have failed to cover in each of their last four games, but they have gone over the projected total in nine of their last eleven contests.

The Pick of the Game

The Golden Hurricanes are an automatic fade on the road right now, especially when you consider that they are taking on one of the best teams in the nation. Houston defeated Tulsa by nearly forty point in the first meeting, and now that Walker has found his groove, a similar result is likely this time around.