Baylor and Houston will face off for the second time this year as the regular season nears a conclusion. The Big 12 foes played each other in January, with Houston winning 77-55 on the road.
The Cougars are 14.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at 143.5 points.
Here’s my prediction, preview and pick for Wednesday’s Houston vs. Baylor matchup.
Houston vs. Baylor prediction, preview
It’s rare to see Baylor this low in the Big 12 standings. The team is a perennial NCAA Tournament team, but this year it’s just trying to stay above .500. The Bears have made the Big Dance in five straight seasons and six of their last seven. In five of those appearances, they lost in the second round; the exception was their 2021 championship.
Likewise, Houston is a yearly powerhouse. The Cougars have made five straight NCAA Tournaments, earning a No. 1 seed in the last three seasons. The Big Dance streak will remain alive this year as they’re the No. 7 team in the country entering this matchup. Earning a No. 1 seed, however, will be a challenge.
Nonetheless, this matchup is no longer a tight one. These teams have been great in recent memory, but it’s not Baylor’s year. The Bears are 14.5-point underdogs on the road. While March is known for its upsets, Baylor needs a lot of help here. It’s won two of its last three, but was on a four-game losing streak prior.
Houston also hasn’t been in the best form. The Cougars crushed Colorado 102-62 on Saturday, but lost three straight ranked games prior. That turned a two-loss season into a five-loss season in a matter of one week.
The Cougars’ last two games are expected victories, so they won’t be able to recover much ground on their resume until the Big 12 Tournament starts.
Houston vs. Baylor pick, best bet
Despite recent losses to ranked conference opponents, Houston is still a top 10 team in college basketball. The Cougars get the benefit of playing on their home floor and thus will be running away with the victory here.
It’s a large spread, but Houston won the last matchup by 22 on the road.