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

Updated Mar. 20, 2025 10:27 a.m. ET

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The top-seeded Houston Cougars (30-4) face off against the No. 16 SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (22-11) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, starting at 2 p.m. ET.

NCAA BK

NCAA TOURNMENT - FIRST ROUND

Houston Cougars HOU

78

FINAL

40

1

Houston ^31-4

HOU ^31-4

78

16

SIU Edwardsville ^22-12

SIUE ^22-12

40

SIU Edwardsville Cougars SIUE

FINAL

HOU -28.5 UNDER 127.5

The Houston Cougars enter their matchup against the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars as huge favorites. The Houston Cougars are favored by 28.5 points. The matchup features an over/under of 126.5.

Continue reading to get all the information before betting on the Houston-SIU-Edwardsville contest.

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 99.5% chance to win this matchup based on the moneyline's implied probability.
• The SIU-Edwardsville Cougars have a 2.8% implied probability to come out on top.

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.
• When playing as at least 28.5-point favorites this season, Houston has an ATS record of 4-1.

Key Total Facts

• In 22 games this season, the Houston Cougars and their opponent have combined to score more than 126.5 points.
• SIU-Edwardsville Cougars games have had over 126.5 points 23 times this year.
• The total for this matchup is 126.5 points, 20.3 fewer than the combined scoring average of the two teams.

Key Moneyline Facts

• Houston has been favored on the moneyline 30 times this season. They've gone 26-4 in those games.
• 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 -20000 or shorter.
• SIU-Edwardsville has not entered a game this season with longer moneyline odds than +3500.

FINAL

SIUE 40 · HOU 78

NCAA BK

SPREAD

TO WIN

TOTAL

16

SIU Edwardsville Cougars

SIUE

+28.5

+3325

O 127.5

1

Houston Cougars

HOU

-28.5

-12500

U 127.5

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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