Houston Cougars vs Baylor Bears Final Four Betting Picks, Lines & Predictions
The first Final Four betting matchup will bring us an All-Texas matchup. On Saturday, Baylor will take on Houston for a place in the Championship Game.
The Bears have stormed through the South Region. They disposed of their opponents with an average margin of victory of 14.25 points. They have now covered the spread in 3 consecutive games and won 8 out of 9 straight up. Over the whole season, they hold the 26-2 record, with 18-10 against the spread. This is a historic moment for Baylor as they’ve reached the Final Four for the first time after 71 years.
Houston had luck on their side when it comes to the Final four betting schedule. All of their opponents so far have been double-digit seeds. Still, the Cougars have been quite impressive this season. They’re now on the 11-game winning streak. They’ve won 28 games this season, losing only 3 times. Their record against the spread is 21-10. The Cougars have also waited long for a Final Four appearance. This will be their first since 1984.
Houston Cougars vs Baylor Bears Final Four Betting Line Movement
The opening Final four betting odds favored Baylor by -5 and the line has been steady since. The total, on the other hand, has dropped a bit. It opened at 136 and now stands at 134.5 at most bookies.
Notes On The Houston Cougars
In the Final 8, Houston continued with perhaps the most dominant defensive performances at the tournament. They’ve kept Oregon State at only 31 points and that’s the only time the Cougars have allowed more than 60 points so far. Their defense more than makes up for their occasional struggles on the other side of the court. Another aspect of the game that got them this far is their success on the boards. They’ve outrebounded the Beavers 41 to 19 including incredible 19 offensive rebounds. It’s the part of the game where they may seek their chance against Baylor. The defensive rebounding is probably the weakest spot for the Bears and they allowed Arkansas 11 offensive boards in the Elite 8 matchup.
The guard duo Quentin Grimes and Marcus Sasser continues to lead the Cougars through the tournament. The two combined for 38 points against the Beavers.
Notes On The Baylor Bears
The Bears have proven to be one of the most balanced and complete teams in the tournament. They dominate the offense scoring 74.5 points per game. And, they’re no pushovers on defense. They’ve allowed only 60.3 points per game so far. Furthermore, they have the necessary athleticism and strength not to be bullied by Houston’s defense. Plus, the Bears lead the nation in threes and have shoot 8-15 from the deep against Arkansas. And, defending the three is the one aspect of the Houston defense they don’t excel at. Baylor also takes care of the ball well and doesn’t commit a lot of turnovers. While they are only so-so on the defensive glass, they’re one of the best in the nation in the offensive rebounding.
Baylor key Final four betting players are also on guard positions. Senior MaCio Teague led the way against Arkansas with 22 points. The leading scorer, Jared Butler, added 14.
Houston Cougars vs Baylor Bears Final Four Betting Pick: Under 134.5
In a Final four betting matchup between two elite defenses, there’s no way to go but UNDER. We expect a tightly contested and low-scoring game.
