The Big 12 is heating up as the fourth-ranked Arizona Wildcats prepare to clash with the second-ranked Houston Cougars in a pivotal matchup on Saturday afternoon. Both teams are currently tied for first place in the conference with identical 11-2 records, making this game a crucial battle for supremacy. Arizona (24-2 overall) is coming off a solid 75-68 victory against BYU, while Houston (23-3 overall) is looking to rebound after a narrow 70-67 loss to Iowa State earlier this week.
Arizona has proven to be a formidable challenger on the road, with an impressive 6-1 record away from home this season. However, Houston boasts an impeccable 13-0 record at their home arena, the Fertitta Center. The match will see Arizona missing key player Koa Peat due to a lower leg injury, and Houston will be without Kordel Jefferson, who is sidelined with a knee injury.
Set to tip off at 3 p.m. ET, the matchup has Houston marked as a 6.5-point favorite according to the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, with a total points over/under of 141.5. Betting insights from the SportsLine Projection Model suggest that this matchup could produce high-scoring action, as the model has simulated the game 10,000 times—earlier results indicating a strong tendency toward the Over in previous matchups.
The SportsLine model, noted for its accuracy, is currently on an impressive run, hitting 11 of its last 12 over/under picks and going 13-7 on top-rated side picks. For bettors looking to strategize, the model has projected three Arizona players to score 11.4 points or more, led by Brayden Burries at 13.4 points. Similarly, Houston is expected to see three players surpassing 13.5 points, with Emanuel Sharp forecasted to score around 18.3 points.
As excitement builds for this high-stakes game, fans and bettors alike will be eager to see how these programs, both vying for a prominent position in the national landscape, will perform. By leveraging expert insights and projections, enthusiasts have the potential to gain an edge ahead of one of the most anticipated matchups of the season.