Free College Basketball Picks Today: Houston Cougars vs Cincinnati Bearcats 1/28/23

The No. 3 Houston Cougars (19-2, 7-1 AAC), one of the country’s top scoring defenses, host the Cincinnati Bearcats (14-7, 5-3 AAC) on Saturday.

Cincinnati lost to the Memphis Tigers 75-68 at Fifth Third Arena on Sunday. Viktor Lakhin had a standout performance in the loss with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bearcats fell to fifth in the American Athletic Conference. Houston won on Wednesday at Addition Financial Arena, beating the UCF Knights 82-71. Emanuel Sharp led the team in scoring with 18 points.

With 14 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds, Jamal Shead also impressed. The Cougars remain first in the American Athletic Conference.

The teams are meeting for the final time this season. After taking the only previous season matchup against Cincinnati 72-59 at Fifth Third Arena on January 8, their seventh straight head-to-head victory, Houston will be looking for a season sweep.

Jarace Walker led the Cougars with 21 points. Mika Adams-Woods had 19 points in the losing effort. Landers Nolley II and David DeJulius, averaging 15.5 and 14.5 points per game, respectively, are leading the Bearcats in scoring this season.

DeJulius also has dished 4.2 assists per game. Meanwhile, Lakhin is grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game.Marcus Sasser (16.6 ppg) has powered the Cougars’ offense. J’Wan Roberts is averaging 7.1 rebounds per game, and Shead is distributing 5.2 assists.

The Cougars are one of the stingiest scoring defenses in the nation, ranking second with 54.2 points per game allowed. Cincinnati is 7-3 in the last 10 games with an average margin of +7.3 (71.8-64.5). For the season, the Bearcats are averaging 76.8 points per game, compared to 67.7 for opponents.

Houston has gone 9-1 over the last 10, scoring 77.1 points per game on average while holding opponents to 59.6 (+17.5 margin). The Cougars are averaging 75.4 ppg for the full season while allowing 54.2.

BEARCATS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points per game:
Jeremiah Davenport: 6.6 | 9.3 | -2.7
Rebounds per game:
Landers Nolley II: 7.4 | 5.4 | +2.0
Assists per game:
David DeJulius: 7.0 | 4.2 | +2.8

COUGARS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Terrance Arceneaux: 2.6 | 7.8 | -5.2
Points per game:
Jamal Shead: 13.2 | 9.0 | +4.2
Rebounds per game:
Ja’Vier Francis: 3.0 | 4.6 | -1.6

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.