The last game of the NCAA tournament’s first full day comes to a close when the No. 2 Houston Cougars, the defending national runner-up, take on No. 15 Idaho in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Houston had been a bit-up-and-down this year, but won five consecutive games to charge home before losing in the Big 12 title game. Idaho finished seventh in the Big Sky before winning four games in four days to advance to March Madness.
Houston is an overwhelming favorite to advance to the second round, where the winner of this game plays the winner of St. Mary’s-Texas A&M.
Houston Cougars vs. Idaho in March Madness today
The No. 2 Houston Cougars men’s basketball team takes on No. 15 Idaho in a first-round NCAA tournament game in Oklahoma City. The 8:10 p.m. MT/9:10 p.m. tip Thursday, March 19, will be aired on truTV.
How to watch Houston vs. Idaho in the NCAA tournament
The Houston vs. Idaho game will air at 8:10 p.m. MT/9:10 p.m. CT on truTV on Thursday, March 19.
More: Predicting every Men’s NCAA tournament game using AI
Who does the winner of Houston-Idaho play?
The winner of the No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho game will play the winner of No. 7 St. Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M in the second round on Saturday.
Houston men’s basketball record
The Houston Cougars are 28-6.
Idaho men’s basketball record
The Idaho Vandals are 21-14.
Houston Cougars vs. Idaho Vandals odds
Odds from BetMGM.com: Houston -23 1/2. Moneyline: Houston -10,000, Idaho +2,500. Over/under 137 1/2.
Houston Cougars men’s basketball vs. Idaho Vandals predictions, picks
The Arizona Republic: Houston 88, Idaho 63
Jeremy Cluff writes: “This is not the same Houston team that almost won the national championship last season. But the Cougars are still really good.”
Dimers: Houston 81, Idaho 57
It writes: “After extensive simulations, our model gives Idaho a win probability of 2%, while Houston has a win probability of 98%.”
ESPN: Houston has a 98.2% chance to beat Idaho
The site gives the Vandals a 1.8% shot at defeating the Cougars in the NCAA Tournament March Madness first-round game.
Bookies.com: Bet Houston to cover vs Idaho
Bill Speros writes: “The Cougars fell 2.5 points short of a national title last year. Kelvin Sampson’s 28-6 team fell just short to Arizona in the Big 12 title game. But it will handle business with ease here. Houston is built to blow out mid-majors with their elite defensive physicality and Sampson’s disciplined system.”
ESPN: Pick Houston to win against Idaho in NCAA bracket
Jay Bilas writes: “The Cougars have Kingston Flemings, one of the best freshmen in the country and a certain lottery pick. Houston’s defense is too good for an upset pick here.”
vsin.com: Houston 79.5, Idaho 57.8
It writes: “Houston’s talent advantage is simply too large. The Cougars will cover the spread the old-fashioned way — length, defense, and just enough offense to pull away. Idaho’s story deserves a longer chapter eventually. This probably isn’t it.”
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Houston men’s basketball kicks off March Madness against Idaho: Odds
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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