14-03-2025
BYU vs. Houston odds, picks and predictions
The BYU Cougars (24-8) and Houston Cougars (28-4) meet Friday in a Big 12 Conference Tournament semifinal in Kansas City. The opening tip at T-Mobile Center will be at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's college basketball odds around the BYU vs. Houston odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
BYU — No. 18 in the USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll and the 4 seed in this tourney — took down 12th-ranked and No. 5 seed Iowa State 96-92 Thursday. The Cougars won outright as 2.5-point underdogs with the Over (146) easily cashing. G Richie Saunders had a team-high 23 points, including a 3-for-8 performance from downtown. BYU has won 9 straight games.
Houston, No. 2 in the country, and the top seed in the Big 12 Tourney, failed to cover as 17.5-point favorites in a 77-68 quarterfinal victory over Colorado Thursday. G Emanuel Sharp led the squad with 19 points, including 4-for-7 from distance. G L.J. Cryer struggled, going 4-for-11 from the floor, but finished with 14 points.
Houston's top rebounder F J'wan Roberts (10.8 points, 6.3 rebounds per game) sprained his ankle early in the second half and didn't play the rest of the game. Friday afternoon reports claim he'll be good to go vs. BYU, but keep an eye on it.
In the one regular-season meeting in this battle of Cougars, Houston romped at home 86-55 as a 9.5-point favorite with the Over (133.5) cashing Jan. 4. Sharp led the host Cougars with a game-high 18 points, while BYU only had one scorer in double figures — reserve G Trevin Knell (12 points).
Friday's other Big 12 semifinal pits No. 2 seed Texas Tech (25-7) against third-seeded Arizona (21-11).
THE BRACKETS ARE BACK! The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back! $1 MILLION grand prize for a perfect bracket, $25,000 prize for top bracket. Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now!
BYU vs. Houston odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Moneyline: BYU +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Houston -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
BYU +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Houston -300 (bet $300 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS): BYU +6.5 (-105) | Houston -6.5 (-115)
BYU +6.5 (-105) | Houston -6.5 (-115) Over/Under (O/U): 133.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
BYU vs. Houston picks and predictions
Prediction
BYU 70, Houston 68
Houston has won 11 straight, but I don't like the vibes I'm getting from these Cougars. They have covered just once in the last 6 games — with a push as 4-point favorites at Baylor Saturday. They are still finding ways to win, but at some point, allowing teams to hang around will bite them.
BYU needs this game more for seeding purposes, and it is a solid bunch that's on a roll.
Send it with BYU (+240). BetMGM has a 'No Sweat Token' you can place on this to give you solace in case it doesn't work out.
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Let's double up and take BYU +6.5 (-105). With Houston's issues covering (spreads) and the possibility of an outright win, this is my favorite bet of the bunch.
BYU is 8-2 O/U the last 10, and Houston is 5-5 O/U. The Over cashed in the earlier meeting, and I like OVER 133.5 (-110) here. Houston allowed an inferior Colorado squad to drop 68 Thursday. On a back-to-back, I like the Over potential.
Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now!
Follow Ryan Dodson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
