Houston vs Arizona Odds, Lines & Spread: Big 12 Championship Showdown
The top-seeded Houston Cougars (29-4) face the third-seeded Arizona Wildcats (22-11) in the Big 12 Tournament championship game at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Houston opened as a 6.5-point favorite (-278 moneyline) while Arizona sits at +225 underdogs. The total is set at 133.5.
Basketball player in military attire
Houston's Dominant Path The Cougars continued their Big 12 dominance (19-1 regular season) with convincing tournament wins over Colorado (77-68) and #17 BYU (74-54). Emmanuel Sharp scored 26 points against BYU while LJ Cryer added 20. Houston's defense held BYU to just 32% shooting, marking the second time this season they've held the normally high-scoring Cougars under 60 points.
Arizona's Road to the Final Arizona earned impressive wins over Kansas (88-77) and #9 Texas Tech (86-80) to reach the championship game. KJ Lewis and Henri Veesaar each scored 19 points against Kansas, while Caleb Love dominated Texas Tech with 27 points. The Wildcats shot 50% from three-point range against TTU and controlled the rebounding battle.
Key Factors
- Houston won the regular season matchup 62-58
- Caleb Love has scored 20+ points in 4 of his last 7 games
- Arizona's depth and athleticism match up well with Houston
- Both teams feature strong defensive units
Prediction Despite Houston's impressive season, Arizona's recent offensive surge and ability to match up athletically with the Cougars make them an appealing underdog. The value lies with Arizona at +225 on the moneyline.
Pick: Arizona moneyline (+225)
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