Houston Cougars vs UCF Knights NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/18/25
Betting on today’s Cougars and Knights game? Catch the action at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, FL, as the Knights hosts this showdown at 12:00 ET on CBSS. Houston come into this Big 12 conference matchup as the -11.5 favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 137.5 points.
HOUSTON COUGARS VS UCF KNIGHTS BETTING PICK
The Pick: UCF Knights +11.5
This game will be played at Addition Financial Arena at 12:00 ET on Saturday, January 18th.
WHY BET THE UCF KNIGHTS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Knights.
- Not only will UCF pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +11.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 137.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 145 points.
Is a Win at Orlando Possible for the Cougars?
Houston Cougars Recent Game/Games
The Cougars improved to 13-3 on the season with a 70-54 win over the Mountaineers on Wednesday. Houston was favored by 16 points going into the game, and the final score resulted in a push against the spread.
Houston led 40-27 at halftime and outscored West Virginia 30-27 in the second half. The total points for the game were 124, just under the O/U line of 124.5.
Houston’s offense put up 70 points in their last game, shooting 49% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 58.8%. They connected on 42.3% of their three-point attempts, hitting 11 of 26 from deep, while shooting 56% on two-pointers.
J’Wan Roberts led the way with 22 points on 10 of 13 shooting, while L.J. Cryer added 18 points, hitting 5 threes at a 50% clip. Amani Hansberry contributed 16 points, making 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.
Despite Houston’s strong defensive reputation, they allowed 54 points on 49% shooting from the field in their previous game. The opposing team shot 56% from two-point range, hitting 14 of their 25 attempts.
From beyond the arc, the opposition connected on 11 of 26 threes, good for 42%. They also went to the free-throw line 12 times, making 9 of those attempts. Houston gave up 9 offensive rebounds.
Will UCF Come Through as Home Underdogs?
UCF Knights Recent Game/Games
UCF improved to 12-4 on the season with a 95-89 road win over Arizona State on Tuesday. The Knights entered the game as +3.5 point underdogs and not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
UCF led 49-47 at halftime and scored 46 points in the 2nd half while holding Arizona State to 42. The game’s total points of 184 exceeded the O/U line of 149.5.
UCF’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 95 points with a 50.8% shooting performance from the field. They hit 46.2% from beyond the arc, knocking down 12 threes, and finished with an effective field goal percentage of 60%. At the free-throw line, they connected on 81% of their attempts, going 17-for-21.
Keyshawn Hall led the way with 40 points and 6 assists, shooting 72.2% overall and 66.7% from three. BJ Freeman added 26 points, hitting 5 of 6 from deep, while Jayden Quaintance contributed 20 points on 72.7% shooting. UCF also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and dished out 18 assists as a team.
UCF’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 89 points on 52% shooting from the field. They allowed their opponent to hit 54% of their two-point attempts, with 18 makes on 33 shots.
From beyond the arc, UCF’s defense gave up 12 threes on 24 attempts, a 50% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 26 times, where they converted 17 free throws.