Not many teams in the American Athletic Conference have had success against Houston over the past two seasons. The one team that has played the Cougars tough is Memphis. The Tigers are 2-2 in their past four games against Houston, with one of the losses coming by two points.
Memphis gets another shot at the AAC kings on Sunday, and though they might not get the win on the road, I believe the Tigers can stay within the double-digit point spread.
One reason Memphis has given Houston problems is because it’s the only team in the conference that can match up with the Cougars athletically. Penny Hardaway’s highly rated recruiting classes give Memphis a fighting chance against the most talented team in the AAC.
First Bet Offer: Get up to $1,000 Paid Back in Bonus Bets if You Don't Win! with code NPBONUS
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Available in AZ, CO, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, TN, VA, PA, OH, WV, WY only.
Ohio Launch Offer: Bet $1+ on Any Market, Get $200 in Bet Credits!
21+. New customers only. Ohio. Terms and conditions apply. 21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Ohio Launch Offer: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets
21+. New customers only. Ohio only. Terms and conditions apply. 21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Ohio Launch Offer: Get up to $1,500 in Bet Credits with code NPBONUS1BET
New users only, 21+. Offer available in Ohio only. Full terms and conditions apply. OH only. 21+. New users and first wager only. Must register with eligible promo code. Bet amount of qualifying wager returned only if wager is settled as a loss. Maximum bet credit $1,500; must be used within 14 days of receipt. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Void where prohibited. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Ohio Launch Offer: Get up to $500 in Bet Credits!
21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Ohio Launch Offer: Bet $50, Get $111 + Up To $1,000 in Fred Bets
Bettors in Ohio must be 21+ and physically located in the state. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Outside of offensive rebounding, in which Houston has a big edge, this game looks pretty even on paper. Both offenses get a majority of their scoring from 2-point range, while these are two of the top 3-point defenses in the country. It will be strength versus strength in this matchup.
One area in which the Tigers hold an edge is free-throw attempts per game. Memphis ranks 92nd in free-throw scoring rate and 71st in foul shots attempted per game. Houston’s aggressive defense tends to foul a lot, ranking 212th in opponent’s free-throw attempts per game. In their two wins over Houston last season, the Tigers shot 34-for-39 from the free-throw line, compared to the Cougars’ 16-for-26.
Betting on College Basketball?
- Check out the best College Basketball betting sites
- Read our guide on how to bet on College Basketball
- Get the latest NCAA Championship Winner odds
Houston can really pound teams at home, but given the Tigers’ recent success against the Cougars, I don’t see them being intimidated. I’ll back the Tigers to keep this game within the number.
The play: Memphis, +14.5.