Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Houston Cougars Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 02/01/2025

Game Time: 6:00 pm ET, Saturday, February 1, 2025

Venue:  Fertitta Center, Houston, TX

Where to Watch:  ESPN2

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Texas Tech +10.5, Houston -10.5; Over/Under:  130.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Texas Tech +10.5, Houston -10.5; Over/Under:  130.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Texas Tech +10.5, Houston -10.5; Over/Under:  130.5 points

Texas Tech Red Raiders:  16-4 (7-2) (4th place, Big 12)

Houston Cougars:  17-3 (9-0) (1st place, Big 12)

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Texas Tech Red Raiders:  5-0  last 5

Houston Cougars:  5-0  last 5

Texas Tech is entering this game with a 16-4 record overall, a 7-2 record in conference games, and they are 4-0 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the TCU Horned Frogs in their last game. JT Toppin led the team in points per game in that game with 18 while Chance McMillian was next on the team with 16. Elijah Hawkins led the team in assists with 5 in that game while JT Toppin led the team in rebounds with 14. They were 46.9% from the field, 32.3% from 3-point range, and 71.4% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 81.4 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 64.7 PPG against them. Texas Tech has an ATS record of 11-9 this season and their O/U record is 11-8-1.

Houston is entering this game with a 17-3 record overall, a 9-0 conference record, and they are 11-0 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the West Virginia Mountaineers in their last game. LJ Cryer led the team in points in that game with 17 while Joseph Tugler was next on the team with 12. J'wan Roberts and LJ Cryer each led the team in assists with 3 in that game while Joseph Tugler led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 48.1% from the field, 38.9% from 3-point range, and 100% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 76 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 55.3 PPG against them. Houston has an ATS record of 12-8 this season and their O/U record is 8-12.

The current betting odds have Houston listed as a 10.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Houston has looked great in their games this season with their 17-3 record overall and their 9-0 conference record which has them right at the top of the Big 12. They have looked great on their home court this year with their 11-0 home record and they are ranked inside the top 5 as they are one of the best teams in the nation. Meanwhile, Texas Tech has also looked really good in their games this season with their 16-4 record overall and their 7-2 conference record which has them right near the top of the Big 12. They have been a great road team so far with their 4-0 road record too and they have a lot of momentum on their side with 6 wins in a row now. Both of their losses in the Big 12 were at home and they put up a really good fight against Iowa State in one of those, losing by 1 point, but Houston is on another level this season and there have been very few teams that have been able to keep up with them this year. They have looked a little shaky in their road games lately, but they have been crushing teams at home by double digits all season and they also have a ton of momentum on their side with 13 wins in a row now. Houston is making a case for themselves as one of the best teams in the nation, if not the best, and with the emergence of this Texas Tech team as a force lately, Houston will bring their best effort at home to make a statement while also knocking them down a peg. The best way to place a bet here is on Houston to cover the spread in this game. 

Texas Tech Houston Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Saturday, February 1, 2025 (6:00 pm ET start time) is Houston 74 Texas Tech 60.

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Texas Tech Red Raiders: 7-13 ATS after playing 2 consecutive home games. 5-11 ATS when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 80%). 4-10 ATS versus good defensive teams - allowing 64 points/game or less. 12-5 OVER as a road underdog or pick. 13-6 OVER after playing 2 consecutive home games. 28-15 OVER versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 8+ points/game.

Houston Cougars: 28-16 ATS in all home games. 18-10 ATS in a home game where the total is 130 to 139.5. 14-7 ATS versus good passing teams, averaging 16 assists/game or more. 16-9 OVER versus poor foul drawing teams - attempting 18 free throws/game or less. 

Texas Tech Red Raiders:  D. Williams (F) Out - Ankle. J. Henderson (G) Out - Lower Body.

Houston Cougars:  R. Walker (G) Out - Hand. J. McFarland (C) Out - Leg.

“It feels like our team doesn’t have the maturity that we know we need to do to close games like this, and that’s frustrating, I think, for everybody involved.” - Grant McCasland on his team this season.

“Coming in here (Wednesday), if you had told me we were going to win by one, I wouldn’t have played the game. Win by one point and go home. You’ve got that two-game road trip at Kansas and at West Virginia, this ain’t no beauty contest, they don’t put pictures beside the score. It’s a win, and I’m proud of our kids for coming back.” - Kelvin Sampson after his team’s win against WVU in their last game. 

E. Hawkins 

C. McMillian 

J. Toppin 

K. Walton 

D. Williams

L. Cryer 

J. Roberts 

E. Sharp 

J. Tugler 

M. Uzan

PPG: J. Toppin (16.4)

APG: E. Hawkins (6.1)

Reb/G: J. Toppin (8.9)

PPG: L. Cryer (13.7)

APG: M. Uzan (4.9)

Reb/G: J. Roberts (6.6)

Coaches:

Texas Tech Red Raiders: Grant McCasland (2nd season)

Houston Cougars: Kelvin Sampson (11th season)