Utah vs Houston Picks and Prediction – 1/22/2025

On Tuesday, the Utah Utes (11-6) face off against the 10th ranked Houston Cougars (14-3) at the Fertitta Center in Houston, Texas. Get ready for the college basketball season with our college basketball picks.

Houston comes into this matchup on a ten-game winning streak. In a commanding 70-54 victory over West Virginia, J’Wan Roberts made a significant impact for the Cougars by netting 22 points. This season, Houston's offensive efforts have been primarily driven by L.J. Cryer and Emanuel Sharp, both of whom average 13.8 points per game, leading the team in scoring. Following closely behind is J’Wan Roberts, who is contributing an impressive average of 10.5 points per game. Roberts also stands out as the leading rebounder for the Cougars, averaging 6.6 rebounds per game so far this season. When it comes to facilitating plays, Milos Uzan tops the assists chart for Houston, averaging 4.8 assists per game. In their recent five-game stretch, the Cougars have maintained an average scoring of 73.6 points per game, anchoring their position at the top of the Big 12 Conference standings. With their current momentum, Houston aims to secure their eleventh consecutive win and their seventh straight victory in conference play. Overall, the Cougars boast an impressive season average of 76.2 points per game.

Utah enters this game on a two-game winning streak, but has dropped three of their last five games. In their 73-65 victory over TCU, Gabe Madsen shone for the Utah Utes by scoring 17 points. Throughout this season, Madsen has been the team's leading scorer, maintaining an impressive average of 15.8 points per game. Following him in scoring for Utah is Ezra Ausar, who has been averaging 11.2 points per game so far this year. When it comes to rebounds, Lawson Lovering stands out with an average of 5.3 rebounds per game, making him the top rebounder for the Utes. Miro Little, on the other hand, leads the team in assists, contributing an average of 4.1 assists every game this season. In the past five games, Utah has struggled defensively, allowing opponents to score an average of 76.6 points. As they prepare for an away game in Houston, the Utes aim to pull off an upset and secure their fourth conference victory of the season. On offense, the team has been effective, with an overall average of 80.2 points scored per game.

Utah's offensive lineup appears to have regained its footing after experiencing a few games of inconsistency. As they prepare to face Houston, they are determined to halt the home team's progress. The Houston Cougars have been on a remarkable run, securing victories in all ten of their home matches as well as all six outings within their conference. Eager to maintain and extend these impressive winning streaks, Houston seems to have found a harmonious flow in their gameplay. I anticipate that they will likely carry this momentum into the upcoming game against Utah. Final Score Prediction, Houston Cougars win but fail to cover, 77-62.