Houston Cougars (10-1) vs Central Florida Knights (3-4)
Game Info: Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 2:00 pm (Fertitta Center)
Betting Odds: Houston Cougars -13 -- Over/Under: 128.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: ESPNU Stream College Basketball all season on ESPN+. Sign up now!
The UCF Knights and Houston Cougars face off on Sunday in a college basketball showdown at Hofheinz Arena. These two squads faced off in December and it was the Cougars who were able to come away with a 63-54 victory.
The UCF Knights played well to start the season but since that point there have been some major struggles. Coming into this game UCF has lost three straight games and in their last game against Temple the offense could only manage 55 points and that led to the defeat. On the season UCF is averaging 64.6 points per game while their defense is giving up 67.4 points per game. UCF is shooting 40.3 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from behind the three point line. UCF is led by Brandon Mahan who averages 15.6 points and shoots 51.5 percent from the field and 40.9 percent deep
The Houston Cougars look like they are the class of the AAC and coming into this game they only have one loss. In the last game against Tulane it was the defense that was the difference putting up only 50 points and that led to the victory. On the season Houston is averaging 73.1 points per game while their defense is giving up 56.4 points per game. The 56.4 points per game given up is second in college basketball. Houston is only allowing opponents to shoot 36.5 percent from the field and 26 percent from deep. Houston is led by Quentin Grimes who averages 17.7 points and shoots 37.5 percent from the field and 34.2 percent deep.
UCF is 8-1 against the spread in their last nine games played on Sunday. The under is 21-6 in Houston’s last 27 games overall. Houston is 20-8 against the spread in their last 28 games played on Sunday. The over is 7-2 in the last nine meetings played between the two teams. The over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings in Houston.
When these two teams face off the over has been the strong play and there is no reason to believe it’s going to be any different in this game. UCF’s defense hasn’t been as strong as years past, and this game will go well over the total. Back the over.