🏀 Houston vs. Kansas Prediction & Odds: College Basketball Picks Tonight (Feb. 23)

Both teams enter tonight’s Big 12 blockbuster following tough losses, as No. 14 Kansas hosts No. 5 Houston. The Jayhawks are coming off a stunning upset at the hands of Cincinnati, while the Cougars look to avoid a three-game losing streak.

Houston is a 1.5-point betting favorite for tonight's 9 p.m. ET tip (ESPN) at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. My Houston vs. Kansas prediction backs freshman star Kingston Flemings to out-duel the Jayhawks' backcourt and secure a season-defining road win as part of my college basketball predictions.

Don't miss our Louisville vs. North Carolina prediction for the first matchup of ESPN's doubleheader tonight.

🏀 Houston vs. Kansas picks & odds today: Feb. 23

See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 3 units | Max profit: 2.85 units

💰 Houston vs. Kansas prediction & best bet

Houston -1.5 (-114)

Kansas just lost at home to a 15-12 Cincinnati team ranked No. 46 by KenPom. Houston is one of just four teams ranked top 10 in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. 

The Cougars' two recent losses came against No. 2 Arizona and No. 4 Iowa State, and while the Jayhawks were hot, they seem out of sorts now. The Darryn Peterson saga continues, and the team is 8-7 ATS when he plays, including 2-3 in his last five.

Whether it's Peterson's health or a continuity issue, the Jayhawks don't look like the same team that was surging in January. 

Score prediction: Houston 69, Kansas 66

🔥 Best Houston vs. Kansas player prop bet

Kingston Flemings 20+ points (+106)

Flemings has lived up to his status as a future top-10 pick and is among the four freshmen atop the Wooden Award odds. Unlike Peterson, Flemings rarley plays fewer than 30 MPG for Kelvin Sampson, and it's paid off with him averaging 17.9 PPG in Big 12 play.

The five-star frosh has been at his best in the Cougars' biggest games, too. In eight games against ranked opponents this season, Flemings is averaging 23.9 PPG and has gone for 20-plus six times.

Kansas' defense has slipped in recent games, giving up 76.2 PPG in its last four

🚀 Houston vs. Kansas same-game parlay

Despite Houston coming off two straight losses against top-five teams, the Cougars look far more trustworthy than Kansas. Houston has its best offense in years, thanks to Flemings. And the Peterson situation has overshadowed the Jayhawks' season, with the loss to Cincinnati at home being almost unexplainable.

💡 How I'm betting Houston vs. Kansas

Follow all of our college basketball analysis and expert predictions this season.

This is one of the biggest games of the week, and every college basketball fan is going to be glued to their TV. That's why I'm putting multiple units on this game. Not only am I backing Flemings to lead Houston to a win on the road, but I'm also fading Peterson with a unit on the Under on his points and rebounds (22.5 at -115).

Kansas is one of the hardest teams to gauge in the country right now and there's no bigger enigma than Peterson, so I'd take Houston to cover up to -2.5 on the road.

📊 Live Houston vs. Kansas odds

Houston opened as a 1.5 to 2.5-point betting favorite at our best March Madness betting sites, and the line has seen minimal movement. The Cougars have bounced between -1.5 and -2.5 at most books since opening, and I don't expect them to be favored by more than 2.5 points by tip. 

📈 Houston vs. Kansas betting trends

📺 How to watch Houston vs. Kansas

• Date: Monday, Feb. 23
• Tipoff: 9 p.m. ET
• Location: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, Kan.)
• TV: ESPN