National No. 1 Houston already has wrapped up the regular-season AAC title and looks to avoid a bit of a letdown on Thursday when it hosts Wichita State in the home finale for the Cougars – although they might play again in Houston come April in the Final Four.

UH looks for the regular-season sweep as it won 70-61 at Wichita State on Feb. 2. Jarace Walker had 15 points, including the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 4:27 left. Marcus Sasser also scored 15 for the Cougars, who trailed by six midway through the second half. Jamal Shead added 13 points and seven assists. Jaykwon Walton equaled his career high with 24 points for the Shockers (11-11, 4-6), who went 3 for 20 from 3-point range and shot 39% from the field overall. James Rojas added 15 points and seven rebounds. Kenny Pohto pulled down 12 boards to go with eight points.

“I thought the difference in the game was the 3-point line,” Wichita State coach Isaac Brown said. “We went 3 for 20 and, down the stretch, their big man, Walker, was 3 for 6 from the 3-point line and I thought that was the difference in the game.”

ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) has Houston as a significant favorite to win the NCAA Tournament with a 33.7% chance. The Cougars close the regular season at Memphis on Sunday.

These teams have split 36 meetings all-time. Barring an AAC Tournament clash, Thursday’s winner will have bragging rights for years with UH departing next season for the Big 12. The Shockers are 2-9 in AAC era matchups vs. Houston. The Shockers’ last win of any kind in the city of Houston came 39 years ago at Hofheinz Pavilion when they took down West Texas State in the Bluebonnet Classic consolation game.

Before all else, Nitrobetting takes a peek at important game details that help you lock in on the best picks. Below, you can find event information, team and player stats, and the latest College Basketball odds. We also have timely betting trends and predictions at your disposal.

Wichita State vs. Houston Game Information

And remember…

After all that dancing, the cooldown is important#ForTheCity x #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/t0WE1hBjUp

— Houston Men's Hoops (@UHCougarMBK) February 26, 2023

• When: Thursday, March 2 at 7:00 pm ET
• Where: Fertitta Center, Houston, TX
• TV: ESPN2
• Radio: Kansas Rocks 100.3 (Wichita State) // SportsTalk 790 AM (Houston)
• Live Stream: FOX Sports
• NCAAB Betting Odds: Wichita State (+17.5) // Houston (-17.5)

READ MORE: Alabama vs. Texas A&M NCAAB Odds and Preview – March 3rd, 2023

Why Bet on the Wichita State Shockers?

Wichita State (15-13, 8-8 AAC) won’t be playing in the NCAA Tournament unless it wins the AAC Tournament. This is the team’s last true road game. It comes off an 83-76 upset win at Tulane on Sunday. Jaron Pierre Jr. scored a season-high 28 points in his return, and Craig Porter Jr. had a triple-double. WSU won its fifth straight American Athletic Conference road game – its longest streak since joining the league — and moved to within a game of fifth-place Temple in the standings with two to play.

Porter’s 15-points, 10-rebound, 10-assist stat line was just the second by a Shocker in the last 50 years. Toronto Raptors all-star Fred VanVleet delivered the other on Feb. 7, 2015 against Missouri State. Porter Jr. is the first player in program history to log at least six assists in six straight games. Over this six-game stretch, Porter is averaging 7.2 dimes and has a 3.07 assist-to-turnover ratio (43A, 14 TO).

Picked eighth in the preseason after losing all but two lettermen, WSU opened the conference season 0-3 but has since won 8 of 13. The top five teams earn first-round byes in next week’s conference tournament.

WSU is 2-8 all-time against AP No. 1. The Shockers last faced one during their 2013 Final Four run, when they upset Gonzaga in the Round of 32. Their last regular season encounter came on the road against Lew Alcindor-led UCLA on Dec. 8, 1967. The Shockers’ last conference game against a No. 1-ranked opponent was Feb. 16, 1963 in Wichita, when they ended two-time defending NCAA champion Cincinnati’s 37-game winning streak, 65-64, behind Dave Stallworth’s then-school record 46 points.

Why Bet on the Houston Cougars?

Houston (27-2, 15-1 AAC) is not just the No. 1 team in the nation but remains the betting favorite to win the national title. The Cougars won their ninth straight game Saturday, 76-57 at East Carolina, to win the AAC regular-season crown. Sasser had 22 points, Tramon Mark added 20 and J’Wan Roberts had 17 points and 12 rebounds. By halftime, the Cougars had blocked more shots (five) than the Pirates had even made (three) and led by 17.

Houston leads the nation in scoring defense (55.6), and field-goal percentage defense (35.2), ranks second in winning percentage (92.0) and scoring margin (+20.6), stands third in 3-point field goal percentage defense (26.5) and ranks among the country’s Top 10 in turnovers (9.6, 5th), turnover margin (+4.8, 8th), assist-turnover ratio (1.55, 10th) and rebounding margin (+7.5, 10th).

Sasser is averaging a team-best 17.0 points along with 2.7 threes on 38.2% accuracy. Point guard Jamal Shead averages 5.5 assists and ranks among the national leaders in A:TO ratio (12th, 2.94). Jerace Walker — the AAC’s preseason freshman of the year – is putting up 11.1 points and 6.6 boards.

Wichita State vs. Houston Betting Trends

• Wichita State is 4-2 SU in the last 6 games.
• Shockers are 5-0 ATS in the last 5 games against Houston.
• The total went over in 6 of Wichita State’s last 6 games.
• Houston is 9-0 SU in the last 9 games.
• Cougars are 6-1 ATS in the last 7 games played in March.
• The total went under in 13 of Houston’s last 20 games played on a Thursday when at home.

Wichita State vs. Houston Expert Prediction

Houston 68, Wichita State 52.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2022-23 NCAAB season previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest college basketball odds on our online BTC sportsbook.