Houston vs. Kansas Prediction, Odds and Key Players for Saturday, Feb. 3

Houston stays on the road after winning last Monday in overtime against Texas, traveling to the vaunted Allen Filedhouse for a Saturday showdown.

Kansas has slipped from its normal top of the standings in Big 12 play, but can pick up a game on the conference leader Houston with a win at home. Can the team find answers against the best defense in the country?

Here's how we're betting this high profile matchup, with odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

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Houston vs. Kansas Odds, Spread and Total

Kansas vs. Houston Betting Trends

• Houston is 11-9-1 against the spread (ATS) this season
• Houston is 2-6 ATS on the road this season
• Houston has gone UNDER in 14 of 12 games this season
• Kansas is 9-11 ATS this season
• Kansas has gone UNDER in 11 of 21 games this season

Houston vs. Kansas How to Watch

• Date: Saturday, Feb. 3
• Game Time: 4:00 PM EST
• Venue: Allen Fieldhouse
• How to Watch (TV): ESPN
• Houston Record: 19-2
• Kansas Record: 17-4

Houston vs. Kansas Key Players to Watch

Houston

Jamal Shead: Shead is the engine behind this National Championship contender. He is fresh off a 25-point outing against Texas, leading the team to an overtime victory. While the Cougars have a formidable frontcourt, Shead is the engine behind this Cougars team. If Houston can handle this road test, it'll likely be in part for the guard's doing.

Kansas

Hunter Dickinson: Houston allows nothing inside, but Dickinson is a unique big man in that he can stretch the floor with a 37% 3-point percentage. Can he pull the Cougars defense away from the rim to open up driving lanes for the rest of the team?

Houston vs. Kansas Prediction and Pick

This game profiles as an under one on Saturday.

Houston's defense allows very little on the interior, allowing the eighth furthest average shot distance this season, per Haslametrics. Also, the team allows nothing once teams get inside the teeth of the defense, 71st in field goal percentage allowed near the rim and the lowest mid-range field goal percentage.

This is all impactful against Kansas, who is bottom 50 in 3-point rate and incredibly reliant at finishing inside, 20th in two-point field goal percentage. However, this game should be a battle against Houston's elite defense that forces team's to shoot from the perimeter, top 40 in three-point rate allowed.

Further, Kansas doesn't generate second chances, meaning that this game will likely be played on Houston's terms, in the half court, meaning limited possessions for both sides.

The Cougars offense likely won't runaway and hide in this one. The team is 201st in effective field goal percentage and will face a Kansas defense that has been stellar this season, especially on the inside, 16th in two-point field goal percentage allowed. The team also is 78th in defensive rebounding rate, meaning the team may be well suited to limit Houston's incredibly offensive rebounding rate, sixth highest in the country.

I envision a defensive struggle on Saturday in this marquee matchup, give me the UNDER.

PICK: UNDER 133.5

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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