Houston vs. Wichita State Prediction: Picks & Betting Odds – Thursday, March 2, 2023

The Wichita State Shockers (15-13, 8-8 AAC) are heavy underdogs (+16.5) as they attempt to extend a five-game road winning streak when they visit the No. 1 Houston Cougars (27-2, 15-1 AAC) on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at Fertitta Center. The contest airs at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN2. The over/under in the matchup is set at 133.5.

Houston vs. Wichita State Odds

Houston odds to win: -2047
Wichita State odds to win: +1058
Spread: Houston (-16.5)
Total: 133.5

Houston vs. Wichita State Promo Codes

[bet-bonus id=”346413″ ]

Game Time and Information

Date: Thursday, March 2, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN2
Where: Houston, Texas
Venue: Fertitta Center

Who Will Win Houston vs. Wichita State?

Houston and Wichita State Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Houston has a 10-5 record against the spread this season when favored by 16.5 points or more.

The Cougars and Shockers average 13.3 more points between them than the total of 133.5 for this game.

Opponents of the two teams average a combined 9.2 fewer points per game (124.3) than this matchup’s over/under of 133.5 points.

Houston’s average point total in matchups this year is 132, 1.5 points below the over/under in this game.

The average over/under in Shockers games this season is 5.6 more points than the point total of 133.5 for this outing.

The Cougars’ ATS record is 17-12-0 this season.

The Shockers have gone 13-13-2 ATS this year.

Houston Stats & Insights

Houston’s +586 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 20.2 points per game) is a result of scoring 76.1 points per game (74th in college basketball) while allowing 55.9 per contest (first in college basketball).

The 36.4 rebounds per game Houston averages rank 11th in the country, and are 9.6 more than the 26.8 its opponents pull down per contest.

The Cougars knock down 7.9 three-pointers per game (120th in college basketball) while shooting 35.1% from deep (138th in college basketball). They are making 1.5 more threes per contest than their opponents, who drain 6.4 per game while shooting 27.5%.

Houston ranks 10th in college basketball by averaging 102.6 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is second in college basketball, allowing 75.4 points per 100 possessions.

The Cougars post 76.9 points per game in home games, compared to 76.5 points per game on the road, a difference of 0.4 points per contest.

Wichita State Stats & Insights

Wichita State’s +66 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 2.3 points per game) is a result of putting up 70.7 points per game (202nd in college basketball) while giving up 68.4 per outing (131st in college basketball).

Wichita State wins the rebound battle by 1.7 boards on average. It records 33.6 rebounds per game, 76th in college basketball, while its opponents grab 31.9.

Wichita State makes 1.6 fewer threes per game than the opposition, 6.6 (265th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 8.2.

Wichita State ranks 236th in college basketball with 91.5 points scored per 100 possessions, and 104th defensively with 88.5 points conceded per 100 possessions.

In 2022-23 the Shockers are scoring 2.1 more points per game at home (72.4) than on the road (70.3).

Houston Key Players to Watch

The Cougars scoring leader is Marcus Sasser, who averages 17 per contest to go with 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

J’wan Roberts leads Houston in rebounding, averaging 7.4 per game, while Jamal Shead leads the team in assists, distributing an average of 5.5 in each contest.

The Cougars get the most three-point shooting production out of Sasser, who makes 2.7 threes per game.

Shead is Houston’s leader in steals, averaging 1.7 steals per game, while Ja’Vier Francis leads them in blocks with 1.3 per contest.

Wichita State Key Players to Watch

Craig Porter Jr. has tallied 6.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, putting him atop the Shockers leaderboards in those categories.

Jaykwon Walton scores 14 points per game, putting him at the top of the Wichita State scoring leaderboard. He also grabs 5.3 rebounds and adds 1.9 assists per game.

Jaron Pierre Jr. is the top scorer from deep for the Shockers, hitting 1.6 threes per game.

Porter is at the top of the Wichita State steals and blocks leaderboards with 1.4 steals per game and 1.5 blocks per game.