The Houston Cougars and the BYU Cougars continue Big 12 Conference men’s basketball action on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Houston, Texas.
Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. central on ESPN+. The Cougars (9-3, 1-0 in Big 12) are No. 14 in the AP Top 25 while BYU (10-2, 1-0) is unranked.
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Both teams are coming off conference-opening victories. Houston defeated Oklahoma State, 60-47, and BYU defeated Arizona State, 76-56.
Here is a preview of Saturday’s game.
How to Watch Houston vs. BYU
Date: Saturday, January 4, 2025
Time: 1 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN+
Site: Fertitta Center, Houston, Texas
Houston vs. BYU Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: Houston -10.5
Current Line: Houston -9.5
Over/Under: 132.5
Houston vs. BYU Predictions
Houston enters the game having won five straight and their last two games over high-major teams (Butler, OSU). The Cougars haven’t taken it easy on themselves. Houston is No. 5 in NCAA NET but 0-3 in Quad 1 games, thanks to losses to Auburn, Alabama and San Diego State.
Guard Milos Uzan has been what the Cougars were hoping for in a point guard after losing Jamal Shead to the NBA. He’s not as dynamic as Shead, but with scorers all around him, Houston just needs him to distribute. He leads the team with 5.0 assists, but he also has 9.1 points and 1.0 steals per game.
He’s also shooting 38.5% from the 3-point. On a team with L.J. Cryer, Emanuel Sharp and Terrance Arceneaux, that fits right in. But it’s also a 10% improvement from a season ago at Oklahoma. It’s a percentage that will keep defenses honest.
Speaking of defense, Houston is No. 1 in defensive efficiency in KenPom.
BYU’s Richie Saunders probably isn’t going to score 30 points like he did against Arizona State, but that was the Cougars’ first win over a high-major team and helped nudge their NET rating into the Top 40. But BYU doesn’t have a Quad 1 win yet. Upsetting Houston would do it.
BYU is at full strength again with Egor Demin back after missing nearly a month due to an injury. He only scored four points against ASU, but he also had four rebounds, seven assists and two steals. He doesn’t need to score to hurt you. The Cougars have four other players that can hit double figures, too.
BYU has the same KenPom defensive rating as Utah (99.3) and the Utes were run out of the gym by Baylor in their opener. The Cougars will have to elevate their defense against Houston.
Houston 77, BYU 70
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Houston (87.0% Chance of Winning)
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
