Toledo Rockets vs Houston Cougars NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/18/24
Betting on today’s Rockets and Cougars game? Catch the action at Fertitta Center in Houston, TX, as the Cougars hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The odds for this non-conference game currently have Houston as the -29.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 142.5 points.
TOLEDO ROCKETS VS HOUSTON COUGARS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Toledo Rockets +29.5
This game will be played at Fertitta Center at 8:00 ET on Wednesday, December 18th.
WHY BET THE TOLEDO ROCKETS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-68 in favor of the Cougars.
- Even though we have Houston winning straight-up, we like Toledo at +29.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 142.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Can Toledo Deliver Being Underdogs on the Road?
Toledo Rockets Recent Game/Games
The Rockets fell to 5-4 on the season after a 93-87 road loss to Youngstown State on Saturday. Entering the game as +1.5 point underdogs, Toledo not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.
Toledo trailed 44-39 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap in the second half, as they were outscored 49-48. The game’s total points reached 180, well over the pre-game O/U line of 148.5.
The Rockets put up 87 points in their last game, shooting 46.7% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. They hit 27 of 37 free throws, good for 73%.
Sam Lewis led the way with 21 points and 8 rebounds, while EJ Farmer added 20 points. Nico Galette contributed 17 points and 11 boards, also dishing out 7 assists.
Toledo’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 93 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 49% from the field. The Rockets had a tough time defending inside, as they allowed 63% shooting on two-point attempts, with the other team going 17/27.
From beyond the arc, Toledo’s opponent hit 12 threes on 32 attempts, good for 37%. The Rockets also sent them to the free-throw line 28 times, where they converted 23 for 82%. Toledo gave up 10 offensive rebounds in the game.
Can the Cougars Deliver Being Favored at Home?
Houston Cougars Recent Game/Games
Houston improved to 6-3 on the season with a 62-42 home win over Troy on Tuesday. The Cougars were -28 favorites going into the game, but they didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 104, well below the O/U line of 132.5.
Houston’s defense was dominant in the 1st half, holding Troy to just 11 points while scoring 33. However, they allowed 31 points in the 2nd half, nearly matching their own 29 points scored.
In their latest game, the Cougars put up 62 points, shooting 43.1% from the field. They were particularly effective from beyond the arc, hitting 47.4% of their threes (9/19), contributing to an effective field goal percentage of 51%.
L.J. Cryer was a standout, going 6/7 from three-point range and finishing with 22 points on 72.7% shooting overall. Emanuel Sharp added 14 points and 4 assists, while the team dished out 17 assists and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds.
Even though Houston allowed 42 points, they gave up a 43% shooting performance, with the opposing team hitting 22 of their 51 shots. Inside the arc, the Cougars held them to 40% shooting, as they made 13 of 32 two-point attempts.
From three-point range, the opposition shot 47%, connecting on 9 of 19 attempts. Houston also sent them to the free-throw line 14 times, where they made 9, shooting 64%. The Cougars gave up 13 offensive rebounds.