NCAAB: #2 Houston vs TCU Odds, and Picks (Jan 13)

• Houston took their first loss of the season on Tuesday, falling to Iowa State.
• TCU got a bounce-back win against Oklahoma, winning by a score of 80-71.
• These two teams last met on December 4, 2012, in a game Houston won 54-48.

The college basketball season is in full swing! Let’s preview the upcoming Houston vs TCU matchup. The Cougars will aim to bounce back after losing their first game of the year, while TCU fights to stay red-hot.

How to Watch

• Where: Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena, Fort Worth, TX
• When: Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 6 p.m ET
• Channel: ESPN

Preview

Houston was the final unbeaten team in the country prior to their loss against Iowa State. Not even the last unbeaten team was able to avoid the difficulty of Power-5 road games, especially in the Big-12. They get no break before their next tough road game, heading to face a TCU team coming off of a big win. The Cougars are still projected to receive a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament, thanks to their excellent defense.

TCU nearly upset #3 Kansas on the road on Saturday, losing 83-81. Despite the loss coming under some controversial circumstances, the Horned Frogs didn’t allow it to kill their momentum. On Wednesday, they surged to a 80-71 win against #9 Oklahoma. They’ll face a top-10 team for the 3rd straight time next, with a chance to earn another key win. They’ll need leading-scorer Emanuel Miller to have another great game.

Prediction

Houston may have lost their first game of the season this week, but it is still difficult to pick against the team that lasted the longest without losing. That being said, the Cougars also had an incredibly easy start to the season in terms of scheduling, and will now face the Big-12’s gauntlet. After TCU nearly beat Kansas and then took down Oklahoma, I’d definitely lean towards taking them to win this one on their home court.

NCAAB Picks:

• TCU 65, Houston 63 ()