Texas basketball vs. Houston: Last-minute betting odds

In one of the biggest remaining road games this season, Texas basketball (16-8, 5-6 Big 12) and head coach Rodney Terry gets set to square off against the highest-ranked team in the Big 12. On Feb. 17, Texas battles the No. 3 Houston Cougars (21-3, 8-3 Big 12) in a game that could change the trajectory of the remainder of the campaign for Terry's squad.

Texas is looking to avenge its loss in overtime on home court at the Moody Center in Austin on Jan. 29 to Houston in what will be the second and last regular season meeting between these two teams as Big 12 foes.

The Longhorns have found a bit of recent success in Big 12 play in the last couple of weeks. Terry and the Longhorns have won two of their last three games, including a 36-point dismantling of the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Moody Center on Feb. 10.

A win for the Longhorns could jump them into the top half of the Big 12 standings, depending on how other games shape out in the conference on this day.

Meanwhile, Houston is looking to extend its winning streak to three games if it sweeps the regular season series against the Longhorns this weekend. Houston is also looking to get sole possession of first place in the Big 12 standings if it wins and Iowa State loses on Feb. 17.

Here are the last-minute betting odds for the high-stakes Big 12 matchup in Houston on Feb. 17 between the Longhorns and Cougars, with the tip-off time set for 12 noon CT.

Last-minute betting odds for Texas basketball vs. Houston

Roughly 15 minutes before tip off between Texas and Houston on Feb. 17, the Cougars are a 10.5-point favorite over the Longhorns (per FanDuel). The over/under is 133.5.

Houston (-630) is also a heavy favorite in the moneyline against Texas (+450) in this game.

Houston is the No. 1 ranked team in adjusted efficiency in Division I, per Kenpom. Texas, meanwhile, ranks 25th in the nation in adjusted efficiency.

Kenpom gives Texas a 14 percent chance of beating Houston and projects the final score of this game to be 71-62 in favor of the Cougars.

Prediction for Texas basketball vs. Houston

Since this game could be such a big win for Terry and the Longhorns, and they've had a full week off since their last game against West Virginia last weekend, Texas should get off to a quick and energized start against Houston. If Texas does start fast, maintaining that pace will be the biggest question mark for them in this game.

Expect a big outing from senior big man Dylan Disu, who is on a roll in Big 12 play since the conference tournament last year. Two big x-factors for the Longhorns will be the play of senior guard Max Abmas and how this team rebounds the basketball.

Houston has owned most teams they've played in the battle on the boards this season, which has also been a weak point for the Longhorns in Big 12 play.

Final score prediction: Houston-68, Texas-64

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