#22 Texas Tech vs #6 Houston NCAAB Pick: Red Raiders Aim for Key Upset (Feb 1)

• Texas Tech took down TCU on Wednesday, beating them by a score of 71-57.
• Houston fully dominated West Virginia, earning their 13th victory in a row.
• These two teams last met on March 15, in a game that Houston won 82-59.

The college basketball season is heating up as March nears. In our Texas Tech vs Houston pick, the Red Raiders face an uphill battle on the road. They will need to be at their best to end Houston’s streak.

Texas Tech Seeks Signature Win

Texas Tech is on a 5-game winning streak, with their last defeat coming by just 1 point to #3 Iowa State. They’ll attempt to carry their momentum into what should be a challenging matchup against Houston. Top scorer J.T. Toppin will be tasked with keeping the Red Raiders alive against Houston’s stellar defense.

Toppin has gotten into foul trouble too often lately, limiting the amount of time that he can be on the floor. He’ll need to be careful against Houston or Texas Tech could be put in a tough situation. They also need Toppin and the whole team to improve from beyond the arc as March Madness approaches.

Houston Aims to Keep Rolling

Despite sitting outside of the top-5, Houston has quietly been dominating. They haven’t lost in two full months, since back in November. A 9-0 record against the Big-12 is worth boasting about, even if the conference appears to be less strong this year. The Cougars will aim to maintain their streak here.

Houston has the top-rated defense in the country, which has been a staple for them each year of the Kelvin Sampson era. While their defense is sensational, the Cougars rank 150th in the nation offensively. Their 92-86 win over Kansas proved they can get it done, but it’s still a concern moving ahead.

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Houston Cougars Pick

Texas Tech has been one of the stronger teams in the Big-12 and will very likely make the NCAA Tournament. That being said, they face an uphill battle on the road against Houston. The Cougars’ suffocating defense will cause trouble for Texas Tech’s offense. Even if the Red Raiders improve from beyond the arc, it’s unlikely they outlast the Cougars.