This week’s Saturday college basketball slate is among the best of the entire season. The biggest game is No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Alabama in Tucsoolsa. But before that game tips off at 4:00 p.m. ET, the No. 6 Houston Cougars will battle the No. 13 Arizona Wildcats in Tucson. This is the 13th time these teams have faced off, with Houston winning the last matchup in 2022. Arizona and Houston are tied 6-6 in the all-time series. This is the first game between the Cougars and Wildcats in Tucson since 2009; Arizona won that game 96-90.
Here’s a college basketball pick for Saturday’s big game between Houston and Arizona.
Houston at Arizona (2:00 p.m. ET)
Although Arizona is coming off a 73-70 loss to Kansas State on Tuesday, it has won its previous six games. Arizona is 11-1 this season at home and has one of the best home-court advantages in the country. During Tommy Lloyd’s four-year tenure at Arizona, he has only lost three games at the McKale Center. Arizona started the season 0-2 against ranked opponents but has won its previous four games against top-25 teams.
This matchup between Arizona and Houston significantly impacts the Big 12 conference standings. Houston (12-1) currently has a one-game lead over Arizona (11-2) in conference play. The Cougars are 20-4 and have won 16 of their past 17 games. Even though three of their early season losses were away from home, they were in neutral sites and tournaments. Houston hasn’t lost a game this season on an opponent’s home court.
Houston is coming off an 11-point win against Baylor. The Cougars’ veteran core, featuring L.J. Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, and J’Wan Roberts, is as good as it gets in the sport. Cryer and Sharp are terrific shooters at over 40 percent, which has been an issue for the Wildcats. Arizona only shoots 31 percent on three-pointers compared to Houston’s 39 percent.
The Cougars are -1.5 favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. As always, Caleb Love’s production is difficult to predict nightly. He scored 22 points against Iowa State in their last matchup against a top-10 team. Jaden Bradley has done a good job scoring the ball lately, having at least 13 points in four straight games. If Arizona can contain Cryer and Sharp along with a more efficient outing, they will be in a good spot to pull off the upset.
