At the onset Houston will catch the attention of handicappers due to their high level of betting on college basketball profitability. So far in March Madness the Cougars have maintained that consistency with two easy payouts. Head coach Kelvin Sampson has built one of the most complete teams on the NCAA Tournament hardwood. In the same way Kentucky has gotten the money in their first two March Madness matchups. However, their 62-56 win over Wofford was a nail biter. Now the big question is which team brings more value to the small opening line.
Houston Cougars vs. Kentucky Wildcats
Date and Time: Friday, March 29, 2019, 9:59 p.m. ET
Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri
NCAA Betting Online Odds at SBG:
| Team | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston U | +3 (-110) | 134½ (-110) |  |
| Kentucky | -3 (-110) | 134½ (-110) | |
| |||
Houston vs. Kentucky TV Coverage: TBS
Houston Cougars
At the beginning Houston gained a lot of respect for winning the American Athletic Conference regular season championship. Head coach Kelvin Sampson has redeemed his reputation to again emerge as one of the most respected leaders in the game. In particular he took over a struggling program and has reclaimed its historic excellence. Houston is 33-3 straight up, 23-12-1 against the spread and 15-20-1 under the total. Last weekend the Cougars easily covered wins over Georgia State and Oklahoma.
Kentucky Wildcats
Now Kentucky is in good form as well after payouts against ACU and Wofford last week. Head coach John Calipari is celebrated as one of the top recruiters in the game. Kentucky is 29-6 straight up, 19-16 vs. the odds and 12-23 under the total. At the same time U of K is considered something of an underachiever with plenty of upside. Talent on the floor is the least of their concerns.
Stats to Consider
Overall betting on college basketball national metrics have Kentucky ranked 78th for scoring offense and 28th for points allowed. U of K ranks an impressive 27th for three-point shooting and 20th for field goal percentage against. By contrast Houston ranks 92nd for scoring offense and a most impressive seventh for points allowed. Further, the Cougars rank best in the nation for field goal percentage permitted and for defending three-point shots.
Team vs. Team
Certainly, Kentucky has shown strong online wagering Value in March Madness the past couple of seasons. In fact, &U of K has lost only one of their last eight games on the board in NCAA Tournament action. Nine of the Wildcats last 11 Big Dance games have gone under the total. Houston has also been in the black with five payouts in their last eight March Madness matchups. Three of their last four Big Dance tilts stayed under the total. Late on Houston has covered the spread in six of their last eight games. Contrarily Kentucky has gotten the money in just three of their last eight matchups.
Matchup to Watch
Naturally Kentucky is the name brand marquee team in this matchup. However, that has not translated into recent Betting on college basketball success or profitability. Indeed, Sampson’s defense poses a very real threat to UH getting the upset in this matchup. Houston is also in top wagering form.
Houston vs. Kentucky NCAA games Betting Odds Picks
In this situation Houston looks like the better bet and value.
Houston vs. Kentucky NCAA Betting Online Pick: Houston Cougars
Houston vs. Kentucky NCAA Betting Online Score Prediction: Houston 78, Kentucky 77
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