by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Jan 08, 2022
Time: Noon ET
Venue: Fertitta Center, Houston, TX
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Houston -12.5
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Houston -12.5
Season record
Wichita State: 9-4 (0-1 AAC)
No. 12 Houston: 13-2 (2-0 AAC)
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Wichita State - Houston preview and analysis
Recent form
Wichita State: lost 82-64 vs. Memphis on Jan. 1
Houston: won five straight; won 83-66 at South Florida on Wednesday
The Houston Cougars will try to push their winning streak to six games when they host the Wichita State Shockers on Saturday for an afternoon matinee.
The Cougars are off to a 2-0 start in AAC play, both on the road, with a 5-point win against the Temple Owls and recently with a 17-point win at South Florida on Wednesday. It was a big game dominated by big man Josh Carlton, who finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds in just 26 minutes.
Carlton has had up-and-down sequences over the past five games, offsetting a double-digit performance with a single-digit dud. He was held to just eight points and six rebounds in 22 minutes against Temple; before that, Carlton had 20 points in 22 minutes against Texas State.
The senior big man from Winterville, North Carolina is averaging 11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game on 61.8 percent shooting.
"The game plan was to get it into to No. 25," Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. "Our kids did a great job of that."
The Houston Cougars will try to push their winning streak to six games when they host the Wichita State Shockers on Saturday for an afternoon matinee.
The Cougars are off to a 2-0 start in AAC play, both on the road, with a 5-point win against the Temple Owls and recently with a 17-point win at South Florida on Wednesday. It was a big game dominated by big man Josh Carlton, who finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds in just 26 minutes.
Carlton has had up-and-down sequences over the past five games, offsetting a double-digit performance with a single-digit dud. He was held to just eight points and six rebounds in 22 minutes against Temple; before that, Carlton had 20 points in 22 minutes against Texas State.
The senior big man from Winterville, North Carolina is averaging 11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game on 61.8 percent shooting.
"The game plan was to get it into to No. 25," Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. "Our kids did a great job of that."
The former UConn big man turned in his best offensive performance since scoring 21 points on March 7, 2019.
Houston has covered three of its past four and have been double-digit favorites in the last three; the Cougars covered as 19.5-point dogs against Texas State. They're 3-1 ATS in their last four on the road and 4-2 at home in their last six.
Wichita State isn't at the same national level as yesteryear, but the Shockers are still off to a respectable 9-4 start. That's even coming off an 18-point loss to Memphis in the Shockers' conference opener. Wichita State shot 29.5 percent from the floor while giving up 52.4 percent of makes to the Tigers.
Tyson Etienne led the way with 17 points despite shooting 4 of 11, and Dexter Dennis had 16 points on 4 of 9 shooting (both players made seven free throws each).
The Shockers have been abysmal as of late on the books, going 1-5 ATS in the last six. Their only cover was via a 36-point win against Prairie View A&M on Dec. 22; the Shockers covered with a 17-point cushion.
Houston has covered three of its past four and have been double-digit favorites in the last three; the Cougars covered as 19.5-point dogs against Texas State. They're 3-1 ATS in their last four on the road and 4-2 at home in their last six.
Wichita State isn't at the same national level as yesteryear, but the Shockers are still off to a respectable 9-4 start. That's even coming off an 18-point loss to Memphis in the Shockers' conference opener. Wichita State shot 29.5 percent from the floor while giving up 52.4 percent of makes to the Tigers.
Tyson Etienne led the way with 17 points despite shooting 4 of 11, and Dexter Dennis had 16 points on 4 of 9 shooting (both players made seven free throws each).
The Shockers have been abysmal as of late on the books, going 1-5 ATS in the last six. Their only cover was via a 36-point win against Prairie View A&M on Dec. 22; the Shockers covered with a 17-point cushion.
Prediction
This seems like another easy walk in the park for Houston. The Cougars are so much better up front and their guards will be able to play defense first, which should make this game rather easy. I like Houston comfortably, and then we should petition them to play in the afternoon more. Houston by 20
Betting trends
Wichita State is 15-18 ATS against conference opponents over the last three seasons.
The under is 14-5 in Wichita State's last 19 road games.
Houston is 59-9 straight up as a favorite over the past few years.
Houston is 10-3 in a game following when it was a favorite.
Projected starting lineup
Wichita State:
PG: Craig Porter Jr.
SG: Tyson Etienne
SF: Dexter Dennis
PF: Joe Pleasant
C: Morris Udeze
SF: Dexter Dennis
PF: Joe Pleasant
C: Morris Udeze
Houston:
PG: Jamal Shead
SG: Kyler Edwards
SF: Taze Moore
PF: Fabian White
C: Josh Carlton
SF: Taze Moore
PF: Fabian White
C: Josh Carlton
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
