The Kansas Jayhawks play the Houston Cougars in the Big 12 Tournament. Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Houston is favored by -5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -240. Meanwhile, Kansas is the underdog at +5.5 with a moneyline of +200. The total is set at 136.5 points.
Here’s my Kansas vs. Houston predictions and college basketball picks for March 13, 2026.
Kansas vs Houston Prediction
My Pick: Over 136.5 or Better
My Kansas vs Houston best bet is on the over. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Kansas vs Houston Odds
| Kansas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -110 | 136 -110o / -110u | +195 |
| Houston Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -110 | 136 -110o / -110u | -240 |
- Kansas vs Houston spread: Houston -5.5 (-110 ), Kansas +5.5 (-110)
- Kansas vs Houston over/under: 136.5 (-105o / -115u)
- Kansas vs Houston moneyline: Kansas +200, Houston -240
Kansas vs Houston College Basketball Betting Preview
Kansas Basketball
The Kansas Jayhawks passed their first test of the gauntlet that is the Big 12 Tournament by taking down TCU last night. However, their reward is a Houston team that is out for revenge after the Jayhawks upset them just a few weeks ago.
In that matchup, we saw the Jayhawks put on their best defensive performance of the year in terms of efficiency since they dominated Texas A&M Corpus Christi back in November. Now, we should not fully expect a repeat performance on that end of the floor, but we should expect Darryn Peterson and company to keep this one tight by draining shots on the offensive end.
In the first meeting, Kansas was nothing special on the offensive end of the floor as Peterson and Flory Bidunga combined for just 18 points, but it was Tre White who exploded for 23 points by having success from beyond the arc and around the rim.
Those are the two areas where the daunting Houston defense is most susceptible, and we should see the likes of Bidunga make an impact in the paint and Peterson get it going from downtown.
While it is much easier said than done, we should see the Jayhawks' stars have a more efficient night offensively, and that opens the door for them to put the Cougars on upset alert again.
Houston Basketball
As I touched on above, Houston was uncharacteristically cold in the first meeting between these teams, totaling a season-low 56 points. It was by far their worst offensive perfromance of the season, and it's almost certain that we won't see Kelvin Sampson's bunch perform like that again here.
The regression is obvious, but what will amplify their increase in overall shot-making is the advantage on the glass. Houston is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country.
We should see Joseph Tugler and Chris Cenac battle hard on the glass and potentially create foul trouble for Bidunga. Any extra possessions could prove deadly to the Jayhawks in this one, as their lack of ability to create turnovers gives the Cougars ample opportunities to find good looks every time down the floor.
Kansas vs. Houston Picks, Betting Analysis
On paper, this is a meeting of elite defensive teams with both ranking inside the top 10 in adjusted defensive efficiency and being a combined 10-24 to under this season. However, the first meeting showed us that to an extreme length, as both sides struggle far more than what they are each capable of offensively.
I'm fully expecting a big bounce-back offensive showing from Houston after their frankly embarrassing outing in February. Although you cannot count out a team that has the scoring talent of Kansas.
This combo should lead to a bevy of points on the board, as this one will be tight to the end and wind up over the total.
My Pick: Over 136.5 or Better
