The BYU Cougars and the Houston Cougars continue Big 12 Conference men’s basketball action on Friday, March 14th, 2025, in Kansas City for the Big 12 Tournament.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. central on ESPN and ESPN+. BYU (24-8) is the No. 4 seed and is ranked No. 17 in the nation. Houston (28-4) is the No. 1 seed and is ranked No. 2 in the country.
Friday’s game between BYU and Houston tips off the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament, where the winner will advance to the championship game on Saturday. The loser heads home.
BYU enters the game coming off a dramatic 96-92 win over Iowa State, while Houston enters the game coming off a 77-68 win over Colorado.
Here is a preview of the game.
How to Watch BYU vs. Houston
Date: Friday, Mar. 14, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN/ESPN+
Site: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri
BYU vs. Houston Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: Houston (-7.0)
Current Line: Houston (-6.5)
Over/Under: 134.5
BYU vs. Houston Predictions
BYU had a moment on Thursday that was hard to ignore. Even against a depleted Iowa State team, the Cougars and the Cyclones played a game right down to the wire. BYU had to fight a feisty Iowa State team for the second time in less than two weeks and the Hilton South crowd, infamous for its ability to inject life into the T-Mobile Center.
BYU met the moment. They neutralized the Cyclones’ intense defensive pressure and only committed 10 turnovers. Richie Saunders hit a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute of the game. BYU played 10 and everyone scored. The Cougars also brought the fan base, rivaling the Cyclones with a crowd that included Kansas City Chiefs head coach and BYU grad Andy Reid.
BYU’s balance and depth will be difficult to contend with, both here in Kansas City and in the NCAA Tournament.
Houston won its opener over Colorado. On paper, it certainly looked like Houston was the better team. In person, the Cougars looked sluggish. Five days of rest must have helped the body, but Houston was not sharp. They were up only five points at halftime and while they were never seriously challenged by Colorado, the Cougars had to play right up to the buzzer.
Houston knows how to bounce back from games like that. It has some of the best 3-point shooters in the game, and that group shot nearly 50% from there on Thursday. The Cougars are a deeper team than they were even a month ago, but they know who to get the ball to when it matters — LJ Cryer.
Watch the status of forward J’Wan Roberts leading up to tip-off. The sixth-year senior sprained his ankle on Thursday. He played just 18 minutes and scored two points. Roberts can play through pain with the best of them, but with the NCAA Tournament looming the Cougars might sit him regardless of how well he bounces back.
This has the potential to be a much different game than the first matchup. On Jan. 4, BYU went to Houston and was blown out, 86-55. It’s safe to say BYU is playing much better two months later. It’s also safe to say that Houston will play much better after a rather plodding opener against Colorado.
Houston 78, BYU 75
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Houston (80.5% Chance to Win)
Odds Shark: N/A
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
