The Temple Owls (11-9, 5-2 American Athletic) will attempt to upset the No. 1 Houston Cougars (18-1, 6-0) in Houston Sunday at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Temple vs. Houston odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Houston boasts the nation’s top-ranked defense, allowing only 53.3 points per game, and faces a Temple offense which ranks 238th averaging 69.3 points per game. Houston’s suffocating defense has allowed teams to shoot just 34.3% from the floor and only 24.9% from 3, both of which rank 2nd in the nation, Houston’s offense averages 76.2 PPG.
If Temple hopes to keep this game close, let alone spring an upset, it will have to count on its own defense, which allows 68.3 PPG (157th). It will also need to shoot better than its 42.2% from the floor (305th) and 31.3% from 3-point range (308).