Texas Southern vs. Houston Prediction and Odds for Wednesday, November 16 (Can Cougars Cover Big Number?)

The Houston Cougars pursuit back to the top of College Basketball has gotten off to a strong start. The team is 3-0 this season and hasn't scored fewer than 80 points and also hasn't allowed more than 60 against mid-major foes.

Houston welcomes Texas Southern, a tournament team a season ago, to the Fertitta Center on Wednesday night in hopes of scoring another dominant win. However, is this spread simply too large for Houston to cover given their methodical tempo?

Let's check out the odds and find a best bet:

Texas Southern vs. Houston Odds, Spread and Total

Texas Southern vs. Houston Prediction and Pick

it will be tough sledding for this Tigers offense against the relentless Houston pack-line defense. Texas Southern is posting an effective field goal percentage of 40.7% so far, albeit on a small sample size, but this is typically for Johnny Jones' team over the years, a defensive minded group. Last season, the Tigers were 102nd in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency metric, holding foes to the 16th lowest effective field goal percentage.

The Tigers have played a formidable schedule to date, losing to San Francisco, Texas Tech and Oral Roberts, but also shocking Arizona State at home in overtime.

Given Houston's incredibly methodical tempo and Texas Southern's propensity to try and get inside the paint in score, I expect the team to struggle to generate any semblance of offense.

On the other side, expect Jones' group to compete on the defensive end and defend the three-ponit line well, funnelling the Houston guards inside. While I'm not that interested in laying it with Houston to cover a spread that starts with a three, I'll take the under as I don't envision Texas Southern is going to be able to crack 55 points.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.