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The quarterfinals of the Big 12 basketball tournament continue on Thursday, as No. 10 BYU takes on No. 2 Houston on Thursday, March 12th at 6:00 PM CT. BYU won its first two games of the tournament against Kansas State and West Virginia, and now get set to play a Houston team that has been resting for the last four days. Here’s a preview, prediction, key storylines, and updated odds to keep an eye on in this matchup as we get set for tonight’s game.

BYU vs. Houston Basketball Updated Odds

The Houston Cougars have opened up as a 10-point favorite, with an over/under set at 152 total points.

Key Storyline: Is BYU Getting its Groove Back?

The Cougars stumbled down the stretch of the season after losing Richie Saunders to a torn ACL. But now they have won three in a row (Texas Tech, K-State, West Virginia) for the first time since January, when they opened up Big 12 play with a 4-0 record. AJ Dybantsa is averaging 29 points per game during these three games, playing some of his best ball of the season. Coach Young has this team running seven deep, but it’s going to have to be a combination of Dybantsa, Robert Wright and Kennard Davis, who has scored in double figures during each game of this run, to get the offense humming to make a decent run in March.

Match Up to Watch: BYU’s Offense vs. Houston’s Defense

This is where this game will be decided. BYU is second in the Big 12 averaging over 84 points per game, while Houston has the No. 1 scoring defense in the league, only allowing teams to score 62.7 per contest. The Cougars scored 105 vs. K-State, before needing just 68 points to beat West Virginia by 20. Is the three games in three days too much for the Cougars? Or can they keep it going and penetrate a Houston defense makes you earn ever point?

Prediction: Houston 72, BYU 70

I believe BYU comes out of this Big 12 Tournament confident going into the NCAA Tournament, which is exactly what Kevin Young should want. He doesn’t want to burn out a team that doesn’t have a ton of depth, but he needed this team to get its mojo back, and it will, even if I believe it will come up short on Thursday night against the Houston Cougars. Houston is rested, nasty defensively, and leads the Big 12 in turnover margin, something that has been hit or miss for BYU this season. They’ll be fresh and ready to defend their title from last season.