How to watch Texas basketball vs. Houston: Odds, matchups, injuries and more

Head coach Rodney Terry and Texas basketball (14-6, 3-4 Big 12) are set to battle the highest-ranked opponent they've faced this season on Jan. 29 at the Moody Center against the No. 4 Houston Cougars (18-2, 5-2 Big 12).

This matchup between the Longhorns and Cougars is the first of two in a home-and-home series in Big 12 play during the regular season. It is also the fourth consecutive ranked opponent the Longhorns have faced during this grueling stretch of conference play.

Texas is looking for its second consecutive win against a ranked Big 12 foe at home. A couple of weekends ago, the Longhorns defeated the No. 9 Baylor Bears at the Moody Center, 75-73.

Houston has found its groove in the Big 12, having won four games in a row, including two against ranked opponents. This comes after Houston dropped two of its first three conference games in early-to-mid January.

Here’s a look at the TV/streaming information and game time as Texas hosts No. 4 Houston at the Moody Center in Austin, TX, on Jan. 29.

How to watch Texas basketball vs. Houston

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN app

Radio/Audio Stream: Longhorn Radio Network/Sirius XM 119 or 199

Game time: 8 p.m. CT

Live stats: Sidearm Stats

Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla, and Kris Budden will call the action between Texas and Houston on ESPN on Jan. 29.

Craig Way and Eddie Oran have the call on the radio broadcast on IMG Longhorn Radio Network.

Texas is 31-32 in the all-time series against Houston. The Cougars won the most recent meeting against Texas on the hardwood, 73-72, in the CBI during the 2012-13 season. The Longhorns have won two of the last three matchups against Houston.

Texas basketball projected starting lineup vs. Houston

• G: Tyrese Hunter, Junior (12.1 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 4.2 APG)
• G: Max Abmas, Senior (17.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 4.3 APG)
• W: Ithiel Horton, Senior (7.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 APG)
• F: Dillon Mitchell, Sophomore (10.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.8 APG)
• C: Dylan Disu, Senior (15.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.1 APG)

Houston projected starting lineup vs. Texas

• G: LJ Cryer, Senior (15.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.9 APG)
• G: Jamal Shead, Senior (11.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 5.9 APG)
• G: Emanuel Sharp, Sophomore (12.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.9 APG)
• F: J'Wan Roberts, Senior (8.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.1 APG)
• F: Ja'Vier Francis, Junior (6.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.2 APG)

Texas basketball injury report vs. Houston

Texas doesn't have any absences due to injury that have been reported for this matchup against Houston.

Betting odds for Texas basketball vs. Houston

Texas is a 4.5-point underdog against Houston on Jan. 29, and the Cougars are favored in the money line (-220) over the Longhorns (+180), per FanDuel. The over/under is 130.5 points.

Houston is the No. 1 ranked team in adjusted efficiency in Division I, per Kenpom. Texas ranks 36th in the nation in adjusted efficiency.

Kenpom gives Texas a 23 percent chance of beating Houston and projects the final score of this game to be 70-62 in favor of the Cougars.

Houston is easily the best team that Texas has faced at the Moody Center this season. The Cougars rank No. 1 nationally in Kenpom adjusted efficiency and in the NET Rankings.

During its four-game winning streak in the Big 12, Houston has won by an average margin of 17 points. Houston is starting to dominate many of its conference games, winning three of the last four by double-digits.

There is no better team defensively and arguably not many better backcourts in the nation this season than Houston's. Head coach Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars are the best in the country in defensive rating and adjusted defensive efficiency.

Houston allows the fewest points per game of any team in college hoops, at a mark just under 52 per game.

In the backcourt, Texas's Max Abmas and Tyrese Hunter will be tested in a big way by Houston seniors LJ Cryer and Jamal Shead. Not only is Houston's guard duo of Shead and Cryer lethal offensively, but they are very active and aware perimeter defenders on and off the ball.

The good news for the Longhorns in this game is that Houston has shown some vulnerability on the road in Big 12 play. Both of Houston's losses this season came on the road against unranked foes in the Big 12.

And Houston's only single-digit win in the last couple of weeks in the Big 12 was on the road in Provo against No. 21 BYU on Jan. 23.

Final score prediction: Houston-71, Texas-65

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