Best College Basketball Picks Today: Houston Seeks To Avenge Sole Big 12 Loss Against Texas Tech

The Big 12 bout between the No. 5 Houston Cougars and No. 9 Texas Tech Red Raiders on Monday night will be an electric matchup with significant implications.

The Cougars not only have an opportunity to avenge their only Big 12 loss of the season, but they can also clinch the conference regular-season title with a win.

Will they be able to add another Big 12 title to their trophy case?

Keep reading below to find our best college basketball picks today!

No. 5 Houston @ No. 9 Texas Tech Odds

PICK: Texas Tech ML (+106) at FanDuel

Since their narrow one-point overtime loss to Texas Tech, the Cougars have refocused and won six consecutive games.

However, this Red Raiders team might be their Achilles heel.

Texas Tech beat Houston on the road without its best player, JT Toppin, but now that he is back, expect the Red Raiders to have even more success in the paint and on the glass.

As they proved in their first matchup, the Red Raiders have considerable offensive firepower and are one of the nation’s most efficient shooting teams.

They should win if they protect the ball, keep the rebounding margin close, and knock down shots.

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Houston Prediction

Isn’t it perfect?

The Cougars, whose only conference loss this season was against Texas Tech, can avenge their loss and lock up the Big 12 regular season championship in one fell swoop.

Houston has dominated the Big 12 since joining it at the beginning of the 2023-24 season. In fact, the Cougs have won 30 of their 34 conference regular season games thus far. 

But can the Cougs knock off a Texas Tech team that beat them without JT Toppin, their star forward?

Texas Tech Prediction

As mentioned above, the Red Raiders not only beat Houston earlier this season on its home floor but also did so with JT Toppin playing just four minutes.

Toppin is the team’s leader in points, rebounds, and blocks per game, yet Texas Tech was still able to squeak out an overtime win.

The Red Raiders kept the turnover and rebounding margins close and knocked down 40% of their 3-point attempts.

They also reached the free-throw line 34 times, which was a tremendous help against a physical and elite Houston defense.

That’s what it will take for Texas Tech to beat the Cougars again, even on its home floor.

No. 12 Michigan @ Nebraska Odds

PICK: Michigan ML (-110) at FanDuel

This is a perfect revenge spot for the Wolverines, who are undoubtedly bitter after losing at home to Michigan State, one of their biggest rivals.

Nebraska has recently struggled on its home floor, dropping three of its past five games at Pinnacle.

While the Cornhuskers have been scrappy all season, it’s still difficult to see their interior defense (149th in opponent 2P%) stopping Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin. 

Nebraska’s rebounding has also been an absolute atrocity in recent games, which gives Michigan a clear gameplan entering this bout: crash the glass.

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Michigan Prediction

The Michigan Wolverines had a prime opportunity to create a slight separation from the rest of the Big Ten, including Michigan State.

However, they dropped a home game to the Spartans in their last outing.

Now, Michigan has its back against the wall and needs to rattle off some wins if it still wants a chance at a Big Ten regular season title.

In this road game, it will have to start with more consistent rebounding and ball protection against a physical Nebraska team.

Nebraska Prediction

In recent games, the Cornhuskers have not done a great job protecting their home floor.

USC and Rutgers have stormed into Pinnacle in the past few weeks and left with wins.

The Huskers will hope to bounce back from a road loss to Penn State, but rebounding issues could prolong their struggles.

Nebraska has the fifth-lowest rebounding rate nationally over its past three games.