Houston vs. SIU-Edwardsville Prediction, Odds, Picks - NCAA Tournament First Round

Updated Mar. 18, 2025 1:27 a.m. ET

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The top-seeded Houston Cougars (30-4) and the No. 16 SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (22-11) square off on Thursday for a spot in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The first-round matchup tips off at 2 p.m. ET.

NCAA BK

NCAA TOURNAMENT - FIRST ROUND

Houston Cougars HOU

Thursday, 6:00 PM

TBS

1

Houston ^30-4

HOU ^30-4

16

SIU Edwardsville ^22-11

SIUE ^22-11

SIU Edwardsville Cougars SIUE

HOU -29.0 TOTAL 126.5

The Houston Cougars take the court as heavy favorites against the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars. The Houston Cougars are favored by 28.5 points. The point total for the matchup is set at 126.5.

Keep scrolling to get the details ahead of betting on the Houston-SIU-Edwardsville clash.

Houston vs. SIU-Edwardsville Game Information & Odds

• When: Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET
• Where: INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas
• How to watch on TV: TBS
• Live boxscore on FOX Sports

Houston vs. SIU-Edwardsville Prediction

• Pick ATS: SIU-Edwardsville (+28.5)
  
• Pick OU: Over (126.5)
  
• Prediction: Houston 80, SIU-Edwardsville 56

Learn more about the Houston Cougars vs. the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars game on FOX Sports!

Houston vs. SIU-Edwardsville Betting Insights

Betting Line Implied Predictions

• Per the spread and over/under, the implied score for the game is Houston Cougars 78, SIU-Edwardsville Cougars 49.
• The Houston Cougars have a 98.9% chance to claim victory in this matchup based on the moneyline's implied probability.
• The SIU-Edwardsville Cougars hold a 3.8% implied probability to win.

Key Spread Facts

• Houston has compiled an 18-15-0 ATS record so far this year.
• SIU-Edwardsville is 17-12-1 ATS this season.
• Houston is 4-1 ATS this season when playing as at least 28.5-point favorites.

Key Total Facts

• In 22 games this season, the Houston Cougars and their opponent have combined for more than 126.5 points.
• SIU-Edwardsville Cougars games have gone over 126.5 points on 23 occasions this year.
• These teams score 146.8 points per game combined, higher than the over/under for this matchup by 20.3.

Key Moneyline Facts

• Houston has won 26 of 30 games when the moneyline favorite this season (86.7%).
• SIU-Edwardsville has entered the game as underdogs 11 times this season and won five, or 45.5%, of those games.
• Houston has not yet played as a moneyline favorite of -9091 or shorter.
• SIU-Edwardsville has not entered a game this season with longer moneyline odds than +2500.

Thu 6:00 PM

TBS

NCAA BK

SPREAD

TO WIN

TOTAL

16

SIU Edwardsville Cougars

SIUE

+29.0

+3260

O 126.5

1

Houston Cougars

HOU

-29.0

-14286

U 126.5

Houston vs. SIU-Edwardsville: 2024-25 Stats Comparison

Houston 2024-25 Key Players

SIU-Edwardsville 2024-25 Key Players

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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CBK - SIU Edwardsville Cougars vs. Houston Cougars - 03/20/2025

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