Houston Cougars vs Tulane Green Wave: Preview, Odds, and Prediction 2/22/23

Odds

2022-2023 season stats

Preview

The Houston Cougars, with an impressive 25-2 record, take on the Tulane Green Wave, who are currently on a five-game winning streak with a record of 17-7. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 9 PM EST, and basketball fans all over the country are eagerly anticipating the clash between these two talented teams.

Tulane Green Wave

The Tulane Green Wave is on an absolute tear, winning five straight games and keeping their conference title dreams alive. But that's not all, my friends. If they can pull off a win in their next game, they'll be breathing down Houston's neck for that top spot in the conference. 

Just take their last game against South Florida as an example. Tulane came into that game as 4.5-point favorites, and they absolutely dominated, winning by a whopping 18 points on the road. They only committed four turnovers and shot an impressive 49.3% as a team. But what really stood out was the performance of Jalen Cook. This man was cooking all night long, finishing with a career-high 30 points and seven assists, earning him AAC Player of the Week honors. And get this, my friends: he's scored at least 20 points in all six games since facing Houston the first time. The man is a machine.

Jalen Cook, Tulane's leading scorer and assist leader, has been a key player for the team this season, averaging 20.1 points per game and 5.2 assists per game. His consistent performances have been instrumental in the Green Wave's success. Kevin Cross, the team's leading rebounder, has also been an important contributor, averaging 6.5 rebounds per game.

But it's not just Cook who's been tearing it up. The entire team plays at an insane pace, leading to an American Conference-leading 82.3 points per game, the 11th-most nationally. And as a team, they shoot an impressive 47.0%, which ranks them 48th in the country. Sure, their three-point shooting isn't quite as elite at 33.5%, but their free-throw shooting is fourth nationally at 79.8%.

However, the Green Wave does give up a lot of points, allowing opponents to score an average of 75.3 per game, which is 10th out of 11 American Conference schools. Their three-point defense is dead last in the conference, with opponents knocking down 35.5% against them. But overall, foes are shooting 42.8% against Tulane, which is seventh in the conference.

Houston Cougars

Houston has been dominating the basketball court this season, with an impressive record of 25 wins and only 2 losses, including a conference record of 13 wins and just 1 loss. The team is also on a red-hot winning streak, having won their last 7 games in a row.

One of the key factors that have contributed to Houston's success is their outstanding defense. Throughout the season, the Cougars have consistently held their opponents to low scores, with their last 5 opponents all scoring 65 points or less. Moreover, their opponents are only managing to shoot 35.8% from the field, which is a testament to the team's defensive prowess.

Houston's leading scorer is none other than Marcus Sasser, who has been lighting up the scoreboard with an average of 16.7 points per game. He is a force to be reckoned with on the offensive end and has played a crucial role in the team's success. J'Wan Roberts has been the team's leading rebounder, averaging an impressive 7.3 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Jamal Shead has been the maestro of the team, leading in assists with an average of 5.6 per game.

Overall, Houston has had an outstanding year, with a strong team effort that has propelled them to the top of the conference. With their impressive defense, dominant scorers, and all-around talent, the Cougars will undoubtedly be a team to watch out for in the upcoming games.

BETTING TRENDS

The total has gone OVER in 11 of Tulane's last 14 games.

Tulane are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.

Tulane are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games against Houston.

Tulane are 0-10 SU in their last 10 games against Houston.

The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tulane's last 7 games on the road.

Tulane are 0-6 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Houston.

Houston are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.

Houston are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games.

The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games against Tulane.

Houston are 18-2 SU in their last 20 games at home.

Prediction

Houston is the more dominant team, with a better overall record and a strong defense. However, Tulane has been on a hot streak, winning their last five games and putting themselves in contention for the top spot in the conference. Their leading scorer, Jalen Cook, has been in incredible form, scoring at least 20 points in the last six games.

Looking at the betting trends, Tulane has struggled historically against Houston, losing their last 10 games against them. However, the total has gone over in 11 of Tulane's last 14 games, which suggests that they may have a high-scoring game against Houston but the Cougars are ranking #1 in defense so I believe that will make the difference on this game. I'm taking the Cougars to cover the spread.

PICK: Houston -14 (-110)

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