#6 Houston vs. #12 Texas Tech Picks and Predictions: Big 12 Basketball
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Fri Jan 23, 2026, 4:05 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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We've got a rematch between two teams in the Lone Star State as the No. 6 Houston Cougars head to Lubbock to face the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders. The Cougars were already victorious when they hosted Grant McCasland's team about two and a half weeks ago, but failed to cover the spread. Now the two battle it out again, as the Red Raiders have revenge on their mind. Let's look at our CBB expert's favorite picks in this conference battle.
Best Bet: Houston/Texas Tech Under 141.5 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
#6 Houston Cougars vs. #12 Texas Tech Red Raiders NCAA Basketball Insights
Milos Uzan is a double digit scorer for the Cougars, adding 4.1 assists as well
Since losing to Houston, Texas Tech has won four straight games, including taking down the No. 11 BYU Cougars at home. They are 10-0 in their own gym this year with four forgivable losses on their record. As for the Cougars, their one slip up came against Tennessee in the Player's Era Festival in Las Vegas. They won six straight prior to that game, and bring an 11 game winning streak into this contest.
Now, last matchup the Cougars were favored by 5.5 but closed closer to 7.5 point favorites. They almost covered the earlier number, but the Red Raiders hit a meaningless half court heave to only lose by four, spoiling anyone with some CLV on the Cougars' spread. The total closed at 142.5, and stayed well under with just 134 total points in the game.
Now, Houston is favored by just 2.5 (despite opening at 3.5), with the total down a bit depending on which book you look at.
Matchup Information – Houston vs. Texas Tech – January 24
- Venue & Location: United Supermakrets Arena (Lubbock, TX)
- Date: Saturday, January 24, 2025
- Kick Off: 2:00 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN
Houston vs. Texas Tech Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of January 23, 2025 at 2:46 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- Houston -2.5 (-112)
- Texas Tech +2.5 (-108)
Moneyline
- Houston -140
- Texas Tech +116
Total
- Over 141.5 (-110)
- Under 141.5 (-110)
Houston bleeds defense. They lead the country in points allowed, and even on the road, they have shown they can slow down an offense with multiple options like Texas Tech's. The Red Raiders are closer to middle of the pack in terms of pace, but they are rock solid defensively as well. Should their focus be on slowing down Houston? Or trying to create enough opportunities for themselves to put the ball in the hoop?
#6 Houston vs. #12 Texas Tech NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Christian Anderson and the Red Raiders are looking for revenge against the Houston Cougars this Saturday
Houston vs. Texas Tech Prediction: Texas Tech Wins Outright, Under 141.5
Best Bet: Houston/Texas Tech Under 141.5 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
This is just a lean at the moment, and I'm not sure I'll bring it to the counter, but let's discuss. We have a lower total than when the two played in Houston, despite a faster team hosting. Should that lead to an increase in possessions? Probably. But it's still Houston controlling half of those trips up and down the floor. Texas Tech is a team that plays solid defense but they do not force turnovers and struggle keeping teams off the offensive glass. Failing to do those two things could lead to more time wasted with the Cougars using up most, if not all, of the shot clock, including the extra 20 seconds when they get a second look.
Texas Tech is an offense that relies heavily on the three ball. They rank top 45 in 3P Rate and top 12 in 3P%, shooting slightly better in their home gym. However the Cougars held them to just 32% from beyond the arc (28.5% if they miss the meaningless half court heave). They've also held five straight teams to under 37% from deep, which will certainly come into play in this matchup.
While I think the Red Raiders find a way to win at home, it won't come easy, and this should still be a very defensive focused contest.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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