- Houston is a one and a half point favorite on the road against Kansas on Monday night.
- Houston has not lost three consecutive games in over nine years, while Kansas has not lost consecutive home games in 37 years.
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Another Big 12 Monday night matchup is set for tonight, as the Kansas Jayhawks host the Houston Cougars in what could be one of the most pivotal games of the ‘25–26 college basketball season.
Houston vs Kansas Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | -1.5 (-110) | -125 | O 138.5 (-105) |
| Kansas | +1.5 (-110) | +105 | U 138.5 (-115) |
Houston comes in as a slight favorite at legal sports betting sites, giving Kansas a point and a half.
It is nearly impossible to beat the Jayhawks at home under Bill Self, with an all-time record of 343–23 at home under the current head coach.
Not only that, but Kansas has not lost consecutive home games in 37 years and not once during Self’s 23-year tenure.
On the other hand, Houston has not lost three consecutive games in over nine years, dating back to 2017.
Something has to give, as Kansas enters the game coming off of a home loss and Houston has lost their last two games.
Houston To Cover -1.5 Points (-110)
As difficult as it is to bet against Bill Self and the Jayhawks at home, Houston has been an objectively better team this season and leads in a few key metrics.
The Cougars rank third in the country in lowest turnover rate and generate turnovers at the 12th highest rate, while Kansas is top 80 in limiting turnovers of their own but bottom 25 in forcing turnovers.
Houston is also 20th best in offensive rebounding, while Kansas ranks below average in offensive rebounding and middle of the pack in defensive rebounding.
Their offensive and defensive efficiency numbers are comparable with Houston slightly leading in both as well.
With the added durability concerns around freshman phenom Darryn Peterson, the Cougars seem primed to pull off a nearly impossible feat.
Pick the Cougars to get a big road win at college basketball betting sites.
Total Points Scored To Be Under 138.5 (-115)
Games between highly ranked teams tend to favor low scoring games, as evidenced by both of the top four matchups this past weekend, with Duke defeating Michigan 68–63 and Arizona upsetting Houston 73–66.
Additionally, both Kansas and Houston have not exactly been lighting up the scoreboard as of late, with each team scoring less than 70 points in two of their last three contests.
Both teams rank top 12 in the country in defensive efficiency, but more importantly, both rank in the bottom half of the country in pace of play, meaning there will be plenty of long, deliberate possessions which will result in less shot attempts, hence less points.
Even against Arizona who ranks 20th in the country in tempo and 13th in offensive efficiency, Houston combined with the Wildcats for just 139 total points.
Now, against a Kansas team that plays at a slower pace with a less efficient offense, points should be at a premium.
