The No. 5 Houston Cougars (22-4, 14-1 Big 12) are aiming for a conference championship against the No. 8 Iowa State Cyclones (21-5, 11-4) this Saturday. Houston is on a five-game winning streak, recently winning 80-65 against Arizona State. Meanwhile, Iowa State has won four straight, including a 79-65 victory over Colorado.

• Tip-off is set at 2 p.m. ET at the Fertitta Center in Houston.
• Latest Odds: Houston favored by 8.5 points and the over/under set at 134.5 points.

How They Match Up

Houston has shown consistent performance, covering the spread in 11 of their last 16 games. Iowa State, however, is looking to maintain momentum with a strong recent showing.

Why Houston Can Cover

Houston has made significant strides and has proven their strength in recent matches by covering their spreads effectively.

Why Iowa State Can Cover

Iowa State’s ability to win by double digits and its strong roster depth presents a challenge for Houston.

How to Make Picks

The model predicts an overall lean towards the over in this matchup and has confidence in a point spread that hits over 60% of the time based on simulations.