Houston vs Cincinnati College Basketball Prediction, Odds, Picks, Best Bets for Jan. 3

The Houston Cougars (12-1, 0-0 Big 12) will try to build on a six-game winning streak when they visit the Cincinnati Bearcats (8-5, 0-0 Big 12) on January 3, 2026 at Fifth Third Arena.

Before you place your bet on this matchup at FanDuel Sportsbook, here are the NCAA basketball odds and spreads you need to know.

Houston vs. Cincinnati Game Info and Odds

• Game day: Saturday, January 3, 2026
• Game time: 2 p.m. ET
• TV channel: FOX
• Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
• Arena: Fifth Third Arena

Houston vs. Cincinnati Picks and Prediction

All college basketball win probability predictions and picks are according to numberFire.
Prediction: Houston win (69%)

Houston is a 7.5-point favorite against Cincinnati on Saturday and the over/under has been set at 134.5 points. Here's some betting trends and insights if you are planning on making a wager on the contest.

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Houston vs. Cincinnati: ATS Betting Stats and Trends

• Houston is 6-7-0 ATS this season.
• Cincinnati is 5-8-0 ATS this season.
• Houston covers the spread when it is a 7.5-point favorite or more 45.5% of the time. That's more often than Cincinnati covers as an underdog of 7.5 or more (never covered this season).
• Against the spread last season, the Cougars played worse when played at home, covering 10 times in 17 home games, and seven times in 10 road games.
• The Bearcats' winning percentage against the spread at home was .412 (7-10-0) last season. On the road, it was .538 (7-6-0).

Houston vs. Cincinnati: Moneyline Betting Stats

• Houston has been victorious in eight of the nine contests it has been chosen as moneyline favorites in this season.
• The Cougars have yet to lose in six games when named as moneyline favorite of -429 or better.
• Cincinnati has yet to win when playing as the moneyline underdog this season, going 0-0.
• The Bearcats have played as a moneyline underdog of +330 or longer in only one game this season, which they lost.
• Houston has an implied victory probability of 81.1% according to the moneyline set by oddsmakers for this matchup.

Houston vs. Cincinnati Head-to-Head Comparison

• Houston was 182nd in the nation in points scored (73.7 per game) and best in points allowed (58.7) last season.
• Houston was 96th in the nation in rebounds per game (33.3) and 10th-best in rebounds conceded (26.9) last season.
• Houston was 292nd in college basketball in assists (12 per game) last season.
• Last season, Houston was third-best in the country in turnovers committed (8.4 per game) and ranked 85th in turnovers forced (12.3).
• Last season Cincinnati scored 71.2 points per game (255th-ranked in college basketball) and ceded 66.2 points per contest (33rd-ranked).
• Last year Cincinnati averaged 32 rebounds per game (179th-ranked in college basketball) and allowed 29.9 rebounds per contest (94th-ranked).
• Cincinnati ranked 148th in college basketball with 13.9 assists per contest.
• Last season Cincinnati averaged 9.7 turnovers per game (45th-ranked in college basketball) and forced 12.5 turnovers per contest (74th-ranked).

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