Free College Basketball Picks Today: Wichita State Shockers vs Houston Cougars 2/2/23

Free College Basketball Picks Today: Wichita State Shockers vs Houston Cougars 2/2/23
Thu 2nd February 2023

The No. 3 Houston Cougars (20-2, 8-1 AAC), one of the nation’s top scoring defenses, travel to face the Wichita State Shockers (11-10, 4-5 AAC) on Thursday.

Houston topped the Cincinnati Bearcats 75-69 at Fertitta Center on Saturday. With 25 points and seven rebounds, Jarace Walker led the way. The Cougars are first in the American Athletic Conference.

Wichita State won on Sunday at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum, beating the East Carolina Pirates 85-72. Craig Porter Jr. scored 20 points to lead the team in scoring. With 19 points and seven rebounds, James Rojas also had an impressive game.

The Shockers remain sixth in the American Athletic Conference.The teams are meeting for the only time this season.

Houston won both games between the teams last season, the last of which was a 76-74 double overtime triumph at Charles Koch Arena in February 2022.

Josh Carlton led the Cougars with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Porter Jr. had 17 points in defeat. Marcus Sasser is averaging 16.2 points per game to lead the Cougars in scoring this season.

Meanwhile, J’Wan Roberts is grabbing 7.0 rebounds per game, and Jamal Shead is dishing 5.2 assists.

Walton and Porter Jr. have been the primary providers of the Shockers’ offense, averaging 12.0 and 11.9 points per game, respectively. Porter Jr. has also recorded 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

Holding opponents to 54.9 points per game, the Cougars are one of the stingiest scoring defenses in the NCAA (3rd). Houston is 9-1 in the last 10 games with an average margin of +17.3 (77.7-60.4).

For the season, the Cougars are averaging 75.4 points per game, compared to 54.9 for opponents. Wichita State has split the last 10 (5-5), allowing 71.6 points per game on average while scoring only 70.7 (-0.9 margin).

The Shockers are averaging 68.3 ppg for the full season while allowing 65.9.

COUGARS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Jamal Shead: 24.4 | 17.7 | +6.7
Terrance Arceneaux: 2.2 | 7.6 | -5.4
Points per game:
Jamal Shead: 14.8 | 9.1 | +5.7
Rebounds per game:
Ja’Vier Francis: 3.0 | 4.5 | -1.5
Assists per game:
Marcus Sasser: 4.2 | 3.2 | +1.0

SHOCKERS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
James Rojas: 24.8 | 15.0 | +9.8
Gus Okafor: 3.6 | 8.1 | -4.5
Points per game:
James Rojas: 14.2 | 8.3 | +5.9
Rebounds per game:
James Rojas: 8.0 | 5.6 | +2.4
Jaykwon Walton: 3.4 | 5.1 | -1.7
Assists per game:
Kenny Pohto: 2.4 | 1.6 | +0.8

SportsTips’ College Basketball Pick:

Houston -12.5 (-105)

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

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