Houston vs Miami March Madness Betting Preview

Houston Even-Money to Win Regional Following Sasser's Return

The Sweet 16 continues Friday with Houston vs Miami from Kansas City, Mo. The game will tip off at 7:15 p.m. on CBS, with the winner advancing to play either No. 2 seed Texas or No. 3 seed Xavier in the Midwest Regional final.

Houston is currently a 6.5-point favorite and -300 on the moneyline. The over/under is 137.

HOU Houston Cougars: All is Well With Sasser Back

All-American guard Marcus Sasser eased concerns about his health, scoring 22 points in an 81-64 victory over ninth-seeded Auburn in the round of 32. Sasser started and played 31 minutes, which surely was a relief to those who had questioned his availability.

Sasser injured his groin in the American Athletic Conference Tournament, forcing him to miss the championship game against Memphis. With their best player sidelined, the Cougars fell 75-65. Although Sasser was back in the lineup against Northern Kentucky, he aggravated the injury and sat out the entire second half as the Cougars labored their way to a 63-52 round of 64 win.

He was sorely needed against Auburn. The Cougars survived a major test — in a virtual road game, no less — by overcoming a 41-31 halftime deficit. They dominated the second half and covered the 5-point spread with ease thanks to a game-high 26 points from sophomore guard Tramon Mark. Because of that, Houston now finds itself in the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight tournament.

Jamal Shead — who has been nursing a sore knee — contributed 10 points and five assists. Jarace Walker added seven points and 10 rebounds.

At +375, Alabama remains the favorite to win March Madness. But sitting right behind the Crimson Tide is Houston at +400.

MIA Miami Hurricanes: ACC Champs Picking Up Steam, Again

The ACC regular season champions are off to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year after defeating No. 4 seed Indiana 85-69 as a 1.5-point underdog. Miami scored the game’s first eight points and led by as many as 13 points before pulling into halftime up 40-35. While Indiana rallied to take its first lead early in the second half, the Hurricanes responded with a 21-8 run to go back up by double digits and seal Indiana’s fate.

Guard Isaiah Wong scored a game-high 27 points to go with eight rebounds. Jordan Miller contributed 19 points. Norchad Omier, pitted against All-American forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, finished with seven points and 17 rebounds.

This was a commanding performance by the Hurricanes, who looked a bit more like themselves following a first-round scare against Drake. Their guard play was elite, and Omier did enough in the paint to deter Jackson-Davis from taking over the game. Miami remains a +5000 longshot to win the NCAA title, but it’s a dangerous out.

Handicapping The Game

Following Sasser’s encouraging return, Houston is now even-money to win the Midwest Regional. The Cougars have been the best team in college basketball all season outside of Alabama, and they remain such in an unpredictable tournament that’s already seen two No. 1 seeds fall. With the Final Four in their backyard, many believe this is the year for the Cougars to break through and finally capture their first NCAA title.

That said, getting there was never going to be easy. That hasn’t changed. Miami is a real threat to steal Houston’s thunder. The Hurricanes — making their fourth trip to the Sweet 16 under Jim Larranaga and fifth overall — are 11-2 since Jan. 31. They’ve averaged 81.4 points per game over that stretch and are top 30 in the country in scoring.

With Wong, Miller and Kansas State transfer Nigel Pack, the Hurricanes have guards capable of handling Houston’s pressure on the perimeter. Additionally, they’ve got a sound big man in Omier.

Houston’s defense is elite, arguably the best in the country. The Cougars held both Northern Kentucky and Auburn under 38% shooting. Auburn shot just 4-for-24 in the second half, including 0-for-5 from 3-point range. They’ve won 15 of their last 16 games, with the only loss coming without Sasser in the AAC final.

The Cougars were uncharacteristically poor on offense against Northern Kentucky, committing 17 turnovers. Despite that, they’re still ranked ninth in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom. Miami is 11th. That should make Houston vs Miami one of the most entertaining college basketball matchups this week.

The Hurricanes have been strong against the spread (20-14) this season, which could be useful if you’re considering betting on Houston vs Miami. (Odds change frequently, be sure to check for the most up to date changes.)

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