Dec. 20, 2025, 10:14 a.m. ET
The No. 8 Houston Cougars (10-1) and No. 14 Arkansas Razorbacks (9-2) meet Saturday. Tip-off from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, is slated for 5:30 p.m. ET (CBS). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the Houston vs. Arkansas odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.
Houston has been off since last Saturday, when it routed +32.5 New Orleans 99-57 (Over 138.5). The 2025 national-finalist Cougars are 12-2 across their last 14 neutral-site affairs. They head into this game on a four-game winning streak, and all 4 wins have been by double-digit margins.
Arkansas has also won 4 straight. The most recent of those was a 108-80 (Over 170) triumph over +23.5 Queens on Tuesday. Over the last 2 seasons, the Razorbacks have gone 5-6 in 11 neutral-site games.
UH and UA are meeting on the hardwood for the first time since 2017.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!Houston vs. Arkansas odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:14 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Houston -190 (bet $190 to win $100) | Arkansas +155 (bet $100 to win $155)Against the spread (ATS): Houston -4.5 (-105) | Arkansas +4.5 (-115)Over/Under (O/U): 144.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Houston vs. Arkansas picks and predictionsPrediction
Houston 74, Arkansas 69
No interest; PASS.
Arkansas has thus far played a tougher schedule than Houston, but it’s a slate weak on defense. And in this one, the Razorbacks find themselves up against one of the top defensive squads in the nation. The Cougars have top-10 defensive efficiency numbers (KenPom pegs them seventh in that department). And they are legitimately worthy of that lofty rating. UH doesn’t allow much close in and is excellent at contesting shots all over the floor. The Cougars are also adept at causing turnovers, although good handles are an Arkansas strength.
The UA defense, on the other hand, figures to be too far out over its skis with some of its defensive numbers. The Razorbacks play a fast-tempo brand of ball and have fared better against like-minded fives. Look for Houston’s glacial pace (KenPom adjusted tempo No. 358) to bother Arkansas on Saturday.
The Razorbacks lost to KenPom No. 5 Duke by 9 and KenPom No. 11 Michigan State by 3. The Cougars slide in nicely between those Quad I comps.
TAKE HOUSTON -4.5 (-105).
The Razorbacks play in an up-tempo SEC, and both last season and this year have played in few games against the slower-than-slow types like Houston. When UA has played slowest-third types, the Under has been prevailing at better-than-a-2-to-1 clip.
Don’t expect much turnover-fed transition ball. Ditto free throws and triples.
The UNDER 144.5 (-110) has leverage.
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