The Arizona Wildcats avoided a massive upset at the hands of TCU on Sunday during the Round of 32, hanging on for an 85-80 overtime win.
Now, they’ll face a much tougher opponent in the Houston Cougars. While this isn’t the same Cougars team that reached the Final Four last season, it has the exact same approach and is probably better than last year’s squad.
To preview this matchup, here are our Arizona vs Houston parlay picks and predictions for this Sweet 16 showdown.
Please note that all March Madness odds are current as of Wednesday, March 23, at 12 p.m. ET on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Arizona vs Houston Same Game Parlay
Parlay Odds: (+525) at DraftKings Sportsbook
- Arizona Moneyline (-125)
- Josh Carlton OVER 5.5 Rebounds (-130)
- Christian Koloko OVER 8.5 Rebounds (+105)
Wager: 1 Unit
With the way the Cougars are playing right now, it seems like everyone is calling a Houston upset over Arizona. It makes sense, as KenPom rates Houston in the top 10 for both offense and defense when it comes to adjusted efficiency.
The Cougars are also tenacious and have continued to battle after losing two key players in the middle of the season. Everyone seems to be stepping up and filling their roles effectively.
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But just because Houston looks good on paper doesn’t mean Arizona can’t win. The Wildcats are balanced as well, ranking in KenPom’s top 20 for adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency.
- Read our full Arizona vs Houston game prediction.
Both of these defenses are terrific, but Arizona’s offense is a bit better which is why I’m taking them on the moneyline.
Good defenses typically cause more missed shots, which leads to more rebounding opportunities. That’s why I’m including a pair of rebounding props as well, especially since Josh Carlton averaged 6.3 boards per game this season and Christian Koloko averaged 7.4.
Both should see a boost in this game, which is why I’m taking their Overs as part of our CBB bet of the day.
Arizona vs Houston Longshot Same Game Parlay
Parlay Odds: (+1300) at DraftKings Sportsbook
- Arizona 10+ Winning Margin (+300)
- Arizona/Arizona Half Time/Full Time (+125)
- Azuolas Tubelis OVER 10.5 Points (-110)
- Kyler Edwards OVER 13.5 Points (-125)
Wager: 1 Unit
Arizona is more than capable of winning this game by double digits. They won their first-round game by 17 points, which was roughly their average point differential during the regular season.
For that to happen, the Wildcats will likely need to start fast and jump out to an early lead, then gradually pull away as the game progresses.
- Play more of our March Madness Sweet 16 Parlays.
After averaging 14.2 points per game this season, Azuolas Tubelis should clear his points prop easily. Ditto Kyler Edwards, who averaged 13.9 points per game this year and will be relied on heavily by Houston here.