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

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

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

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
HOU
Houston Cougars HOU
78
FINAL
40
Houston 31-4
HOU 31-4
78
SIU Edwardsville 22-12
SIUE 22-12
40
SIU Edwardsville Cougars SIUE
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.

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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
Cougars vs Cougars Betting Information
Favorite Spread Favorite Spread Odds Underdog Spread Odds Total Over Total Odds Under Total Odds Favorite Moneyline Underdog Moneyline
Cougars -28.5 -112 -108 126.5 -108 -112 -20000 +3500

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
1
Houston Cougars
HOU

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

Houston SIU-Edwardsville
Points Scored Per Game (Rank) 74.2 (164) 72.6 (213)
Points Allowed (Rank) 58.5 (2) 66.1 (34)
Rebounds (Rank) 10.7 (47) 10 (83)
3pt Made (Rank) 8.1 (135) 7.5 (196)
Assists (Rank) 11.9 (294) 13.7 (166)
Turnovers (Rank) 8.7 (7) 10.7 (135)

Houston 2024-25 Key Players

Houston Cougars Leaders
Name GP PTS REB ASST STL BLK 3PM
LJ Cryer 34 15.2 2.2 1.8 0.9 0.1 2.9
Emanuel Sharp 31 12.6 3.1 0.9 1.4 0 2.4
Milos Uzan 34 11.5 3 4.2 1 0.1 1.5
J'wan Roberts 31 10.8 6.3 1.7 1 0.7 0
Terrance Arceneaux 34 7.1 2.9 0.9 1 0.4 0.7

SIU-Edwardsville 2024-25 Key Players

SIU-Edwardsville Cougars Leaders
Name GP PTS REB ASST STL BLK 3PM
Ray'Sean Taylor 33 19.3 4.5 3.8 2 0.1 2.8
Brian Taylor II 33 12.1 4.1 2.9 0.8 0.2 1.2
Ring Malith 33 11.5 7.2 1.4 0.8 0.7 1.2
Jo Valrie 3 8 6.7 0.7 0.7 0.3 0
Myles Thompson 4 6.3 5.3 1.3 0.8 0 0.3

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

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