Kansas State basketball: How to watch, odds, key matchups, and more vs. No. 4 Houston

How to watch

Channel: ESPN I Fubo TV
Date: Saturday, January 27
Game Time: 11:00 a.m. CT
Radio: K-State Sports Network
Venue: Fertitta Center

All-time series

• Kansas State leads the all-time series 5-3 against Houston
• The last time Kansas State and Houston played each other was in 1974
• Houston is currently on a three-game win streak
• Houston is a perfect 11-0 at home this season

Houston heavily favored

Kansas State is a big underdog in this matchup against Houston. The Cougars are a 14.5-point favorite over the Wildcats. The betting line is set at 110 for this matchup, probably due to both teams having solid defenses.

Houston hasn't allowed an opponent to score over 70 points all season long. Kansas State has given up 70 or more points once this season, and that was against Iowa State on Wednesday. This will definitely be a game of defense so it is a pretty easy call to take the under on this matchup.

Key matchups

Houston is the No. 1 ranked defense in the Big 12 and the nation allowing an average of 51.9 points per game to opponents and 57.3 points per game to Big 12 opponents. Kansas State has the No. 10 ranked defense in the Big 12, but they have allowed Big 12 opponents to score an average of 64.5 points per game.

The biggest matchup in this game is with the defenses. Neither team is explosive on offense with K-State ranked No. 10 and Houston ranked No. 11 in the Big 12. When it comes to the offense, the two players to watch on the court will be K-state's Cam Cater and Houston's LJ Cryer. Carter is seventh in scoring in the Big 12 and Cryer is eighth.

Carter is averaging 16.3 points a game while Cryer is averaging 15.6. This is a big difference between these guys in scoring percentage, but they will be the two big focal points for these defenses.

Prediction

As much as I would love to call a big upset for Kansas State here, I just can't. After seeing how the Wildcats fought and clawed their way back into the game against Iowa State, I thought maybe they could hang with Houston. However, then I saw them not be able to finish games the way they have int he past.

K-State is a good defensive team when playing Big 12 opponents, but Houston is just better. If this game was at home in Bramlage maybe I could have a little more hope for the Wildcats, but Houston is undefeated at home. I am going to take Houston in this matchup, but I do hope I am wrong.