The Houston Cougars (19-2) sit in second place of the Big 12 at 7-1, seeking their 11th straight 20-win season.
The UCF Knights (17-4) travel to the Lone Star State looking to keep up the momentum after their 88-80 home upset of Texas Tech on Saturday.
The Knights are tied for fourth in the conference at 6-3, shooting for their fourth consecutive victory.
Let’s look at the UCF vs. Houston prediction, spread, and CBB Picks for February 4 at Fertitta Center in Houston, tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET on FS1.
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UCF vs. Houston Prediction, Spread, CBB Picks
The Cougars captured the last 10 meetings with the Knights since 2020, including the last three since both teams moved to the Big 12 in 2023.
In last season’s matchup in Orlando, the Cougars edged the Knights, 69-68 as 13.5-point road favorites. UCF is 3-0 against the spread in the past three matchups, including two covers as a double-digit dog.
UCF vs. Houston Over/Under, Spread
The Cougars enter this matchup as 14.5-point favorites, returning a 1.06x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Knights are road underdogs with a 8.33x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Houston Cougars -14.5
- Over/Under: 146.5
- Game Winner Payout: UCF 8.33x | Houston 1.06x
(Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change)
UCF vs. Houston Numbers to Know
Here are some facts and figures to get you set for UCF vs. Houston tonight, including insights on our UCF vs. Houston prediction.
- The Knights are 5-2 ATS as a Big 12 underdog, including outright wins over Kansas, Kansas State, Colorado, and Texas Tech.
- UCF’s only underdog cover in a loss came against undefeated Arizona, cashing as 9.5-point dogs in an 84-77 setback.
- Houston has won seven straight games as a double-digit favorite. The Cougars have covered six times, including in Saturday’s 76-54 home blowout of Cincinnati as 13.5-point chalk.
- Each of Houston’s last three home victories came by 22, 30, and 39 points.
- The Knights rank last in Big 12 play in defensive 2-point shooting, allowing 57.3% shooting.
- In five of the past seven games, UCF yielded at least 60% shooting on 2-point tries. Texas Tech converted on 20-of-26 (76.9%) in Saturday’s loss in Orlando.
- Houston is the top team in offensive efficiency in conference play, while sitting fifth in 2-point shooting.
- In Houston’s run to the National Championship game last season, the Cougars shot less than 20% from 3-point range twice. One of those performances came against UCF, hitting 3-of-16 attempts (18.8%).
- Head coach Kelvin Sampson’s squad leads the conference in lowest turnover percentage (11.0%), while causing the most turnovers at 22.7%.
UCF vs. Houston CBB Player Picks
Here are three top UCF vs. Houston picks to target on Wednesday. Key PrizePicks player projections are headlined by three players: Houston G Kingston Flemings, UCF G Riley Kugel, and Cougars G Emanuel Sharp.
Houston G Kingston Flemings vs. UCF Projection: 18.5 Points
- The star freshman dropped a career-high 42 points in a 90-86 defeat at Texas Tech on January 24.
- In Saturday’s rout of Cincinnati, Flemings was held to 7 points on 2-of-9 shooting, his second-lowest output of the season.
- He has knocked down 4-of-18 attempts from long distance in his five home games. Each of UCF’s last three opponents have hit at least 10 shots from distance.
- In five of eight conference games, the San Antonio native eclipsed this projection.
- In the three outings he scored 10 or less points, two of those came at home.
UCF G Riley Kugel vs. Houston Projection: 13.5 Points
- The senior averages a career-high 14.8 points per game (PPG) after stops at Florida and Mississippi State.
- Amazingly, Kugel was the only Knights starter who failed to reach double-digits (9) in Saturday's 88-point output against Texas Tech.
- The Orlando native finished above this projection in eight of nine games before his 9-point effort last Saturday.
- In his last four road performances, he put up 17.7 PPG, including a 22-point output at Colorado on January 24.
Houston G Emanuel Sharp vs. UCF Projection: 19.5 Pts+Rebs
- The senior has spent all four seasons with the Cougars, posting a career-best 16.3 PPG.
- Sharp compiled consecutive 20+ point outings against Texas Tech and TCU before scoring 13 points against Cincinnati.
- The Tampa native averages a shade below 3 rebounds per contest, while compiling 4 boards in the past three games.
- In four of the previous five home outings, Sharp hasn’t eclipsed this projection, averaging 13.8 PPG and 2.6 RPG.
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Make UCF vs. Houston Picks on CBB on PrizePicks
Houston looks to remain in second place of the Big 12 with a home victory against a surging UCF squad.
There’s never been a better time to add to the excitement of every CBB moment than with PrizePicks.
There are hundreds of player stat projections on the CBB board for every game; just pick at least two player stat projections to build your Lineup on PrizePicks. Or, make your picks on winners, spreads, and over/unders on Team Picks, now available in 34 states!
Check out the Playbook throughout the season for more CBB picks, predictions, and news every day.
