NCAA hoops odds preview - Rice vs. Houston

Rice OwlsHouston Cougars
March 5, 6:00 PM | Hofheinz Pavilion

Rice Owls vs Houston Cougars Odds

12-17TEAM RECORD12-16



College hoops betting interest focuses on the Houston vs Rice battle Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion as the Cougars look to defend home court and cover the NCAAB point spread.

The Cougars currently sports a 12-16 record overall in NCAAB action, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 10-7-1 ATS. The Owls are 12-17 and 10-11-1 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Cougars produce a 9-9 OVER/UNDER record on the season, while the Owls have gone 12-10 against the number.



View Rice vs Houston Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Sportsbooks had set the Cougars as 1.5-point favorites on the Sportsbook line for this contest.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game puts the Cougars, most recently No. 167 in the Odds Shark power rankings, up against the Owls, who rate No. 219 in the latest survey. Meanwhile, math and computer-based handicapping simulations run on this game predict a potential 70-68 victory for the Cougars.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Houston has the nation's No. 187-rated offensive output, at 68.5 PPG. The visiting Owls defense ranks No. 163 allowing on average 67.4 PPG. The Cougars FG% has averaged 45.6% so far, more than the Owls marksmen have achieved on the year, 43% per game.

Comparing how these foes stack up statistically, Rice owns the country's No. 75-rated mark, allowing 67 points per game on the highway. Houston, on the other hand, rates No. 241 in scoring at home.

Last time out for Rice, they were a 67-57 loser as they battled Tulsa at home. They failed to cover in the match as a 1-point favorite. Lucas Kuipers scored 14 points in a futile effort to lead the Owls to a win (they lost 67-57 to Tulsa at Autry Court on Wednesday).

Houston lost its last outing, an 80-77 result against Tulane on March 2. They covered in that game as a 6-point underdog. Houston suffered an 80-77 loss against Tulane on Wednesday, getting 21 points from Maurice McNeil in a losing effort at Fogelman Arena.


Rice Owls Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
After playing Tulsa are 7-3
After a loss are 3-7

Houston Cougars Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
After playing Tulane are 3-7
After a loss are 2-8


A few Owls at Cougars trends to consider:
Rice is 3-22 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Rice is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Rice
Houston is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Rice
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games at home
Houston is 14-5 SU in its last 19 games at home


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