:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68887167/usa_today_15249677.0.jpg)
No. 12 Houston is only second to Wichita State in the American Athletic Conference standings and will take on USF for the second time this year on Sunday. The Cougars could use some momentum heading into the tournament, and they’ll have a good chance to build up some confidence against a Bulls team that’s been up and down all year. Can Houston catch the leaders by winning down the stretch?
Houston (19-3, 12-3 AAC) has won its last two games after being upset by Wichita State. It topped USF by 17 on the road earlier this month and was powered by leading scorer Quentin Grimes, who rattled home 29 points. Grimes has improved his season-high to 33 points against Western Kentucky in his last game. If he’s his usual self, Cougars role players might not have to do too much in this contest.
USF (8-9, 4-7 AAC) has been inconsistent all season and split its season series with Temple after dropping three straight games to Houston, Tulane, and UCF in mid-February. Senior guard David Collins was one of the few positives for the Bulls against the Cougars earlier this year and scored a season-high 18 points on 66% shooting in his team’s blowout loss. He’ll have to replicate those numbers to give his team a chance in a rematch.
Game Time/TV Channel/Streaming
You can watch USF vs. Houston on Sunday, February 28th at 4:00 p.m. ET on ESPNU, or you can stream it via the ESPN app with a cable or streaming service login. If you don’t have a cable login to access the ESPN app, you can get a free trial from YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, AT&T TV Now, FuboTV, or Sling TV to stream it.
Point Spread, Totals, Odds, Trends
Point spread: Houston -18.5
Point Total: 132
Money line: South Florida +1300, Houston -5000
- Houston is 15-5 ATS overall and 10-2 at home.
- USF is 6-10 ATS overall and 4-1 on the road.
The Best Bet
I’ll take a ranked team with Houston’s record ATS over an underdog that’s not even .500 every time. The Cougars won by 17 on the road when they faced the Bulls earlier this season. I expect a similar result at home.
Pick: Houston -18.5
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (NH/CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN). 21+ (18+ NH). CO/IL/IN/IA/NH/NJ/PA/TN/VA/WV/MI only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.