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Pick details
| MATCHUP | Jacksonville State Gamecocks | Houston Cougars |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 1-1 | 2-0 |
| Where | Fertitta Center, Houston, TX | |
| When | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | |
| Time | 08:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
Jacksonville State vs Houston Prediction
In this Jacksonville State vs Houston Prediction, Houston is coming as -36.5 home favorites. The Cougars have been undefeated this season and have been excellent both on the offensive and the defensive end, ranking on the top-80 of the entire country in both categories for a +28.5 point differential. They will face a Jacksonville State that lost its only game against a Division I team and will be playing its second straight game on the road. They scored just 66 points in regulation in their previous game and now have to face an elite Houston defense. Take Houston and lay the points in this one.
Houston Cougars Preview
The Houston Cougars have a 2-0 overall record and a 1-0 home record. They are coming off a 86-68 neutral win against California and will face Rutgers and Oakland next.
Offensively, they are averaging 90 points per game (ranking 77th in the nation), while allowing 61.5 points per game defensively (ranking 67th in the nation) and have a 123.6 offensive rating (ranking 71st) and a 84.4 defensive rating (ranking 63rd). The Cougars are shooting 53.2% from the field (ranking 27th) and 36.7% from beyond the arc (ranking 308th), while allowing their opponents to shoot with 34.2% from the field (ranking 37th) and 26.2% from the 3-point range (ranking 72nd). They are shooting with a 77.1% from the free-throw line (ranking 61st). They are grabbing 41 rebounds per game (ranking 86th) and allow 31.5 rebounds per game off their opponents (96th), while averaging 19.5 assists per game (ranking 52nd) and allowing their opponents to dish 13 assists per game (188th). They average 5 blocks per game (ranking 74th) and 12.5 steals per game (ranking 17th), while committing 11 turnovers per game (ranking 93rd) and forcing their opponents into 17.5 turnovers per game (ranking 58th).
Dedan Thomas leads Houston in scoring, averaging 18 ppg on 50% shooting from the field, also adding a team-high 6.5 assists per game. Delrecco Gillespie follows with 13 ppg on 68.8% shooting from the field, also adding a team-high 7.5 rebounds per game. Joseph Tugler follows with 12.5 ppg on 61.1% shooting from the field. Chase McCarty follows with 10.5 ppg on 41.7% shooting from the field.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks Preview
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks have a 1-1 overall record and a 1-0 home record and a 0-1 road record. They are coming off a 80-83 road loss against South Alabama and will face UAB and Louisiana Tech next.
Offensively, they are averaging 101.5 points per game (ranking 17th in the nation), while allowing 71 points per game defensively (ranking 179th in the nation) and have a 126.4 offensive rating (ranking 54th) and a 88.4 defensive rating (ranking 93rd). The Gamecocks are shooting 49.7% from the field (ranking 88th) and 42.9% from beyond the arc (ranking 31st), while allowing their opponents to shoot with 40.7% from the field (ranking 169th) and 18.8% from the 3-point range (ranking 9th). They are shooting with a 66.7% from the free-throw line (ranking 238th). They are grabbing 43.5 rebounds per game (ranking 69th) and allow 33.5 rebounds per game off their opponents (155th), while averaging 23.5 assists per game (ranking 12th) and allowing their opponents to dish 11 assists per game (91st). They average 6 blocks per game (ranking 36th) and 11.5 steals per game (ranking 35th), while committing 11.5 turnovers per game (ranking 119th) and forcing their opponents into 17.5 turnovers per game (ranking 58th).
Jordan Stiemke leads Jacksonville State in scoring, averaging 22 ppg on 48.3% shooting from the field, also adding a team-high 2.5 steals per game. Chris Lockett follows with 17 ppg on 52.6% shooting from the field, also adding a team-high 9 assists per game. Williams Itumo follows with 12 ppg on 71.4% shooting from the field. Ethan Croley leads the team in rebounds with 7 per game.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks @ Houston Cougars Betting Trends: November 11, 2026
Why the Houston Cougars will win
- Houston has won each of its last 65 night games at Fertitta Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- Jacksonville State has lost five of its last six night games against non-Conference opponents.
- Jacksonville State has lost the first half in four of its last five road games against non-Conference opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Fifteen of Jacksonville State’s last 17 night games against non-Conference opponents have produced a total of 136+ points.
- Each of Houston’s last five games at Fertitta Center have produced a total of 139+ points.
Matchup/League Facts
- Houston is one of only five teams to reach the Sweet 16 in each of its last four NCAA Tournament appearances.
- Houston is one of only nine teams to reach the Sweet 16 in each of its last three NCAA Tournament appearances.
- Jacksonville State ranks T5th among Division 1 teams for opponent blocks per game this season (1.0).
- Jacksonville State ranks 7th among Division 1 teams for three-point field goal attempts per game this season (38.5).
Nick Lagouretos's Pick: Houston -36.5
