Houston dominated the Big 12 regular season and boasts one of the best defenses in college hoops. Gamblers are concerned about the Cougars’ loss of College Basketball lines board value as a team, drawing increased public attention. Since the 2017-18 season, the Houston Cougars have been a Final Four contender. Head coach Kelvin Sampson took over a program in distress when he arrived in 2-14. But Sampson has proven why he is one of the greatest turnaround artists in college basketball history. Previously, Sampson led the Cougars to the 2021 Final Four, which raised expectations to a new level.
2025 NCAA Tournament First Round Thursday Houston Cougars vs. SIU Edwardsville
| Date and Time: | Thursday, March 20, 2025, 2 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | INTRUST Bank Center, Wichita, KS |
| TV Coverage: | TBS |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIU Edwardsville | +29 -107 | 126½ -105 | +2500 |  |
| Houston U | -29 -113 | 126½ -115 | -15000 | |
| ||||
Houston Cougars Team Overview
Late on, Houston has covered two of its previous six games and has gone under the total in six of its last eight outings. First among Houston scorers is LJ Cryer, with 15.2 points per game.
Overall, the Houston Cougars are 30-4 straight up, 16-14-1 against the spread, and 14-17 over/under the online wagering total. Houston has national metrics of 172nd for scoring offense, 115th for field goal percentage, 3rd for 3-point field goal percentage, 120th for free throw percentage, and 147th for offensive rebounding. While defensively, Houston is 1st for scoring defense, 5th for field goal percentage permitted, 61st for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 5th for defensive rebounding.
The Houston Cougars have all the components for a Final Four: experience, talent, coaching, and a few weaknesses. Accordingly, Sampson has built a culture where you know what you’ll get when you play them: a tough-nosed brand of basketball built on defense. Also, UH is a team that rebounds better than anyone in the country.
Following years of success, it’s time for the Cougars to break through and show they can be more than just another high-level program in college basketball. Houston capped an impressive run through the Big 12 Conference this season with a tournament title.
Behind a career-high 25 points from point guard Milos Uzan, the Cougars won their first Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship tournament title. Correlate that they outlasted Arizona, 72-64, Saturday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Saturday’s win finished off perhaps the most impressive run by any team in the history of the Big 12. The Cougars won a conference record 19 regular season games. And then they marched through three more conference foes to win the Big 12 tournament a year after losing to Iowa State in the same game.
SIU Edwardsville Cougars Team Overview
Late on, SIU Edwardsville has covered four of its previous seven games and has gone over the College basketball lines total in six of its last eight outings. Ray’Sean Taylor is the first among SIU Edwardsville scorers, with 19.3 points per game.
Overall, the SIU Edwardsville Cougars are 22-11 straight up, 16-11-1 against the spread, and 14-14 over/under the total. SIU Edwardsville has national metrics of 215th for scoring offense, 267th for field goal percentage, 180th for 3-point field goal percentage, 323rd for free throw percentage, and 53rd for offensive rebounding. While defensively, SIU Edwardsville is 42nd for scoring defense, 27th for field goal percentage permitted, 182nd for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 237th for defensive rebounding.
Houston vs. SIU Edwardsville SBG Free Picks
To summarize, Houston should win this mismatch in a blowout.
Houston vs. SIU Edwardsville SBG Best Bet: Houston Cougars.