Feb. 27, 2026, 11:11 p.m. ET

The Colorado Buffaloes (16-12, 6-9 Big 12) and the No. 4 Houston Cougars (23-5, 11-4) meet Saturday. Tip-off from Fertitta Center in Houston, Texas, is scheduled for noon ET (ESPN2). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the Colorado vs. Houston odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.

Houston has won both matchups since Colorado came over from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 prior to the 2024-25 season (although the Buffaloes have covered both matchups). That includes a 77-68 Cougars win in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals on March 13 last season with the Buffaloes covering as 17.5-point underdogs with the Over (127.5) cashing in Kansas City.

Colorado topped Kansas State 79-70 last time out on Wednesday as a 6.5-point favorite as the Under (163.5) cashed. G Isaiah Johnson led the way with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists with a block, while F Bangot Dak had 10 points and 4 blocks.

The Buffaloes have won the past 2 outings and are a respectable 4-3 straight up (SU) in last 7. They’ve covered 3 in a row and 4-1 against the spread (ATS) in the past 5 games, too. The Under is on a 6-1 run in the past 7 games and is also 11-3 across the past 14 outings.

Houston enters with 3 consecutive losses, all against ranked teams (Iowa State, Arizona, Kansas). The Cougars lost 69-56 at Kansas last time out Monday as a 2.5-point favorite as the Under (137.5) cashed, and G Kingston Flemings was the only Houston player to hit double digits with 16 points. G Emanuel Sharp was a dismal 1-of-10 from the field, finishing with 5 points and 4 fouls.

The Cougars have not only dropped 3 in a row, but they’re 0-5 ATS in the past 5 outings while the Under is on a 7-1 roll in Houston’s past 8 games. The total has gone low at a 12-4 clip in the Cougars’ previous 16 contests, too.

– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!Colorado at Houston odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 10:50 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Colorado +1350 (bet $100 to win $1,350) | Houston -5000 (bet $5,000 to win $100)Against the spread: Colorado +18.5 (-102) | Houston -18.5 (-118)Over/Under (O/U): 139.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)Colorado at Houston picks and predictionsPrediction

Houston 73, Colorado 65

Houston (-5000) is way too expensive to play straight up, costing you 50 times your potential return. That’s not a good bet anyway, but especially when a team is coming in on a 3-game losing streak.

Colorado comes in a little dangerous, averaging 82.7 PPG in the past 3 games, while taking BYU to the mat in Provo, Utah, before falling in overtime on Feb. 14.

AVOID.

Back COLORADO +18.5 (-102) catching the double digits here. As mentioned above, the Buffaloes are 2-0 ATS against Houston since joining the Big 12, both as double-digit underdogs. Colorado also comes in with 3 straight covers and a solid 5-2 ATS mark in its past 7 games.

Houston has failed to cover in 5 in a row and is 0-2 ATS as a double-digit favorite in that span, too.

UNDER 139.5 (-105) is the way to go, but don’t get carried away.

The Buffaloes have improved dramatically on defense as the season has progressed. Colorado has allowed 70 or fewer points in 3 of the past 5 games, which would’ve been unheard of earlier in the season. The Under has cashed in 6 of the past 7 games, too.

For the Cougars, the Under is 7-1 in their last 8 games as they’ve struggled to score points lately. Houston has failed to score more than 67 points in this 3-game losing skid. Houston should be a little more prolific against Colorado, but it hasn’t scored 80+ since Jan. 24 in a 90-86 loss at Texas Tech.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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