Updated March 4, 2026, 10:25 a.m. ET
The Baylor Bears (15-14, 5-11 Big 12) and No. 6 Houston Cougars (24-5, 12-4) clash Wednesday. This Big 12 clash at the Fertitta Center in Houston, Texas, will tip off at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the Baylor vs. Houston odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.
Baylor gave No. 1 Arizona a scare 2 games back before losing to the visiting Wildcats 87-80 on Feb. 24. The Bears bounced back with a 1-point victory over UCF on Saturday, winning 87-86 as a 1.5-point road underdog with the Over (159.5) cashing. Baylor is 2-1 over its last 3 games after going just 2-8 from Jan. 16-Feb. 17.
Houston, which routed the Bears 77-55 Jan. 10, lost 3 straight games — all to ranked foes — Feb. 16-23. The Cougars rebounded for a win their last time out Saturday when they pummeled +19.5 Colorado 102-62 at home with the Over (138.5) cashing. UH shot a season-high 59.6% from the floor in that 40-point victory.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!Baylor at Houston odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:20 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Baylor +875 (bet $100 to win $875) | Houston -1600 (bet $1,600 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Baylor +15.5 (-115) | Houston -15.5 (-105)Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)Baylor at Houston picks and predictionsPrediction
Houston 79, Baylor 66
No interest; PASS.
Houston is 1-5 ATS over its last 6 games. Baylor is 3-1 ATS across its last 4 road tilts.
The Cougars are fresh off a great shooting game, but their offense has slipped a bit in many facets over recent weeks. The Bears are 2-1 ATS in their last 3 Quad 1 games. Their offense has bounced back after cratering in January. The way Baylor handles the basketball and rebounds at the offensive end figure as key factors in keeping the Bears within a couple touchdowns in this spot.
G Cameron Carr has scored 52 points over Baylor’s last 2 games and gives the visiting five an X-factor with his ability to create.
BACK BAYLOR +15.5 (-115).
The uptick in Baylor’s offensive production has resulted in the Over going 4-2 in the team’s last 6 games.
BartTorvik pegs only 14 teams as slowing down possession churn more than the Cougars. But of late, Houston’s pace has been on the uptick. Baylor slides into the mix with a near-average tempo. Look for this pace to be just on the slower side of average but with some decent rim-and-3 input and points coming off rebounds.
The OVER 141.5 (-115) has value.
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