Feb. 27, 2026, 11:11 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
The Colorado Buffaloes<\/a> (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<\/a> NCAA basketball odds around the Colorado vs. Houston odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions<\/a> for the best bets.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0Rankings:\u00a0USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll<\/a><\/p>\n Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!<\/a>Colorado at Houston odds<\/p>\n Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook<\/a>; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub<\/a> for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 10:50 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n Houston 73, Colorado 65<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n AVOID.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Houston has failed to cover in 5 in a row and is 0-2 ATS as a double-digit favorite in that span, too.<\/p>\n UNDER 139.5 (-105) is the way to go, but don’t get carried away.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com<\/a> and BetFTW<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow @danieledobish<\/a> on\u00a0Twitter\/X.\u00a0Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter\/X<\/a> and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:<\/p>\n Alabama<\/a> \/ Auburn<\/a> \/ Clemson<\/a>\u00a0\/ Colorado<\/a> \/ Duke<\/a> \/\u00a0Florida<\/a> \/ Florida State<\/a> \/\u00a0Georgia<\/a> \/ Iowa<\/a> \/ Kentucky<\/a> \/\u00a0LSU<\/a>\u00a0\/ Michigan<\/a>\u00a0\/ Michigan State<\/a> \/ Nebraska<\/a> \/ North Carolina<\/a> \/ Notre Dame<\/a>\u00a0\/ Ohio State<\/a>\u00a0\/ Oklahoma<\/a> \/ Oregon<\/a> \/ Penn State<\/a> \/ Tennessee<\/a>\u00a0\/ Texas<\/a> \/ Texas A&M<\/a> \/ UCLA<\/a> \/ USC<\/a> \/ Washington<\/a> \/\u00a0Wisconsin<\/a> \/ College Sports Wire<\/a> \/ High School<\/a> \/ Recruiting<\/a><\/p>\n