Houston at Kansas Basketball Predictions: Another Heavyweight Fight
The Kansas Jayhawks, coming off another huge win over Oklahoma State, is getting ready to face what might be their toughest opponent of the season so far, as the Houston Cougars come to Allen Fieldhouse for the first time as a Big 12 opponent.
Houston is both the betting favorite and a significant favorite according to the advanced analytics, but Kansas has not lost at home under Bill Self when they are the lower ranked team in a Top 10 matchup. Can the Jayhawks keep that ridiculous statistic intact? Or will Houston put on one of their best defensive performances of the season and show why they are rated as the best team in the nation?
Do you disagree with our assessment? Make sure you read them all and then hope over to the Discord or on Twitter to share your own thoughts.
Kyle Davis
Check out our Houston Preview for Kyle's full breakdown and prediction.
Derek Noll
Although I’m not feeling overconfident about the game against the Cougars, I’m going to take the Jayhawks in a close one. Bill Self has a ridiculous record at home and an even more ridiculous record when his team is ranked below the opponent. If Kevin McCullar is healthy and firing like he was a few games back, Kansas is obviously in much better shape, and I think he’ll be at his best. KU will also need someone other than their starters to step up, and Elmarko Jackson has been making strides of late so I’ll look for him to make a couple of huge baskets and propel the Jayhawks to victory. This one will be close, but I’ll take KU in overtime.
Kansas 71, Houston 68.
Andy Mitts
Despite the two game losing streak on the road in early January, the performance of this Houston team in their first season in the Big 12 is pretty impressive. And while I had some questions about just how legitimate the defense was because of the non-conference schedule, they are near the top of every category in Big 12 play as well, so it is no fluke. With how thin the Kansas bench typically is, the biggest worry about an aggressive offense like Houston is that they will get your team into foul trouble. Instead, Houston struggles to get to the rim consistently in a position that will allow them to draw fouls. With how active KJ Adams is on defense, paired with a big man in Hunter Dickinson that can guard out to the three point line, I like Kansas to make this much more difficult for Houston than they are used to. The only real question is if the Jayhawks can make a respectable amount of threes, or if they are ice cold. Either way, expect a close one with plenty of drama.
Kansas 69, Houston 66.
Brendan Dzwierzynski
Well, it feels weird that we’re all apparently on the underdog Jayhawks here, but man, how do you pick against Kansas at home as an underdog? The last time it happened, KU won by 13 back in 2021. McCullar has to play and play well, obviously, but I think that Kansas will be able to play in the mud with a Houston team that is limiting everyone else’s offensive output this year. Self loves these kinds of games, and I think this is a chance for KU to show why it's still a national title contender. And, again, home underdogs? Of course I’m taking KU.
Kansas 65, Houston 63.
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