Houston Cougars vs Cincinnati Bearcats Picks and Predictions March 1st 2025

No. 4 Houston Aims to Continue Torrid Run in Clash vs. Cincinnati

No. 4 Houston is surging toward March Madness, having won 20 of its last 21 games to re-establish itself as a national title contender. With a victory over Cincinnati on Saturday, the Cougars (24-4, 16-1 Big 12) can clinch their second straight outright conference regular-season title and further solidify their case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Their latest statement win came on Monday night, when they avenged their only Big 12 loss by defeating No. 10 Texas Tech 69-61 on the road. Milos Uzan led the way with a career-high 22 points, while Houston’s elite defense stifled Texas Tech, holding them to 29.8 percent shooting and just 6-of-30 from three-point range (20 percent).

Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson acknowledged that the Red Raiders were missing key players in the matchup but emphasized that winning on the road in the Big 12 is never easy.

“It’s not easy to win in this league,” Sampson said. “It’s hard to win on the road.”

Houston’s Offensive Efficiency and Stifling Defense

The Cougars are known for their defense, but their offense has been just as impressive. They rank second in Division I in three-point shooting (40.2 percent), with LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, and Milos Uzan all shooting at least 41.5 percent from beyond the arc.

With Houston riding a seven-game winning streak, another victory would not only clinch the conference title but also give them even more momentum heading into the postseason.

Cincinnati Fighting for an NCAA Tournament Berth

While Houston is playing for a No. 1 seed, Cincinnati (17-11, 7-10 Big 12) is fighting for its tournament life.

The Bearcats, once ranked as high as No. 14 in December, had a 10-1 start but have struggled in conference play. However, their recent offensive resurgence has reignited their hopes for an at-large bid.

In their first 10 Big 12 games, the Bearcats averaged just 59.4 points per game and went 2-8. Over their last seven games, they have turned things around, averaging 76.4 points per game while winning five of those seven contests.

Jizzle James Leading Cincinnati’s Late-Season Push

The emergence of Jizzle James has been the biggest reason for Cincinnati’s turnaround.

• First 10 Big 12 games: 8.4 points per game
• Last seven games: 19.3 points per game

“Jizzle’s kind of found his confidence and rhythm again as an offensive player,” Cincinnati coach Wes Miller said. “When he’s got the ball in space, we have a lot of confidence in him to go make the play.”

James has taken over as Cincinnati’s leading scorer, averaging 12.6 points per game, while Simas Lukosius (11.2 ppg) returned from a shoulder injury in the Bearcats’ 69-67 win over Baylor on Tuesday.

What’s at Stake?

A win for Cincinnati would likely secure an NCAA Tournament berth, as the Bearcats rank No. 47 in the NET ratings.

“What an awesome opportunity to go down there and compete against a team that’s already clinched a championship,” Miller said.

For Houston, the Cougars are simply looking to stay dominant, secure another regular-season title, and further cement themselves as a top seed for the NCAA Tournament.

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Series History and Prediction

Houston has won eight straight games against Cincinnati, though the Bearcats still lead the all-time series 13-12—a margin that once stood at 8-0 in Cincinnati’s favor.

With Houston playing at an elite level and Cincinnati fighting for its tournament future, expect an intense battle as these two former American Athletic Conference foes clash once again.