#6 Houston vs West Virginia: Odds, Predictions & Key Insights | January 29, 2025

Houston is walking into a brutal scheduling trap, and West Virginia is in the perfect spot to take advantage. The Cougars are coming off an exhausting double-overtime war with Kansas and have Texas Tech on deck, making this a classic letdown spot. With their elite home defense and Houston’s road struggles, the Mountaineers are primed to keep this one close.

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#6 Houston vs West Virginia Odds

Does West Virginia have what it takes to get their revenge on Houston?

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Spread

Houston: -9 (-115)

West Virginia +9 (-105)

Total

Over: 123.5 (-108)

Under: 123.5 (-112)

Moneyline

Houston: -460

West Virginia: +370

#6 Houston vs West Virginia Best Bet

This is a must-bet spot for West Virginia. Houston is coming off a grueling double-overtime win over Kansas on Saturday. They face the Mountaineers tonight before hosting Texas Tech on Saturday, putting them in a brutal scheduling gauntlet. I see West Virginia keeping it close tonight, then Houston unleashing a beast on the Red Raiders this weekend. This is also a revenge spot for the Mountaineers, who lost by 16 the last time these teams met in Houston.

West Virginia has dropped two straight against Arizona State and Kansas State, making this a crucial game against one of the best teams in the country. Haslametrics gives the Mountaineers a massive home-court advantage along with a major consistency edge. Meanwhile, Houston has struggled away from home, ranking dead last in road performance with several close calls and inconsistency issues, ranking 20th worst in the country.

The Mountaineers will need their elite defense to clamp down on Houston’s efficient offense. At home this season, they rank sixth in adjusted defensive efficiency and are among the best in forcing turnovers, blocking shots, and defending both the paint and perimeter, with all metrics inside the top 50. Offensively, they have been inconsistent but still sit inside the top 150 in adjusted efficiency. They struggle to get to the foul line, but when they do, they capitalize, ranking 57th in home free throw percentage.

Houston’s offense takes a hit on the road, ranking 258th in three-point percentage, 297th in free throw percentage, and 334th in free throw rate. These are all areas West Virginia’s defense—and their raucous home crowd—can exploit.

This should be an all-out rock fight, with points at a premium and a pace slower than your mom at Kohl’s on a Saturday morning. With scoring at a premium, taking the Mountaineers as nearly double-digit underdogs feels like a must.

Lean: Under 123.5