The No. 1 seed Houston Cougars (31-3) are a 19-point favorite in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against the No. 16 seed Northern Kentucky Norse (22-12) on Thursday at Legacy Arena at BJCC. The matchup tips off at 9:20 PM on TNT. Here are insights into this Midwest Region 1-16 matchup to help you fill out your bracket.
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Houston Vs Northern Kentucky Betting Lines
| Favorite | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | -19 | 121.5 points |
Computer Picks
| Spread Pick | Houston (-19) |
|---|---|
| Total Pick | Over (121.5) |
Predictions are calculated by a data-driven algorithm (raw power score) that ranks head-to-head matchup results within a closed network of games. Prediction confidence is determined by the delta between each team’s raw power score. Ready to put your picks to the test for this matchup? Check out DraftKings Sportsbook and sign up using our link for the best first-time depositor bonus!
Houston Vs Northern Kentucky Stat Rankings
| Houston Avg. (Rank) | Northern Kentucky Avg. (Rank) | |
|---|---|---|
| 75 (99th) | Points Scored | 68.2 (273rd) |
| 56.5 (2nd) | Points Allowed | 63.6 (29th) |
| 36.7 (19th) | Rebounds | 31 (284th) |
| 11.8 (15th) | Off. Rebounds | 10.2 (78th) |
| 7.8 (133rd) | 3pt Made | 8.2 (95th) |
| 14.8 (63rd) | Assists | 13.6 (146th) |
| 9.4 (10th) | Turnovers | 10.7 (58th) |
Houston Vs Northern Kentucky Betting Trends
- The Cougars’ record against the spread is 18-15-1.
- Houston is 10-6 as 19-point favorites or more.
- Out of 34 Cougars games so far this year, 15 have gone over the total.
- Houston’s games have had more than 121.5 points scored on 26 occasions this season.
- Cougars games have had an average of 131.5 points this season, 10 points higher than the over/under for this matchup.
- Northern Kentucky’s record against the spread is 14-18-0.
- Houston has seen 15 of its 34 games hit the over.
- Norse games have finished with over 121.5 points scored 22 times this year.
- The average total points scored in Northern Kentucky’s games this year (131.8) is 10.3 points higher than the total for this matchup.
Best Betting Site For Houston vs Northern Kentucky
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Houston Impact Players
- Marcus Sasser is tops on his team in points per game (17.1), and also puts up 2.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists. At the other end, he posts 1.7 steals and 0.2 blocked shots.
- J’wan Roberts is tops on the Cougars at 7.7 rebounds per game, while also posting 1.1 assists and 10.4 points.
- Jamal Shead averages a team-high 5.4 assists per game. He is also putting up 10.3 points and 3 rebounds, shooting 41.5% from the floor and 32.6% from downtown with 1.3 made 3-pointers per contest.
- Jarace Walker is putting up 11 points, 1.7 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game.
- Tramon Mark is averaging 9.7 points, 1.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds per contest.
Northern Kentucky Impact Players
- Marques Warrick is the Norse’s top scorer (19.1 points per game) and assist man (2.7), and puts up 2.4 rebounds.
- The Norse get 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game from Sam Vinson.
- Chris Brandon tops the Norse in rebounding (9.8 per game), and posts 6.8 points and 0.8 assists. He also puts up 1 steal and 0.7 blocked shots.
- Xavier Rhodes is posting a team-high 3.7 assists per contest. And he is contributing 7.7 points and 2.3 rebounds, making 44.6% of his shots from the floor.
- The Norse receive 6.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game from Trey Robinson.
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