Houston Cougars vs Siu Edwardsville Cougars Picks and Predictions March 20th 2025

Top-Seeded Houston Stays Focused Against SIU Edwardsville

The Houston Cougars (30-4, No. 1 seed) enter the Midwest Region first round on a 13-game winning streak, but head coach Kelvin Sampson isn’t taking 16th-seeded SIU Edwardsville (22-11) lightly.

With only two No. 16 seeds ever upsetting a No. 1—UMBC over Virginia (2018) and Fairleigh Dickinson over Purdue (2023)—Sampson is making sure his team treats this one-game season with full focus.

“Some people may like looking ahead, but that’s not for us,” Sampson said. “The only game I care about is the one we’re playing.”

With College Basketball Championship Odds favoring Houston, the Cougars look to continue their recent tournament dominance, which includes a Final Four (2021), an Elite Eight (2022), and three Sweet 16s over the last five years.

Houston’s Key Players & Championship Aspirations

The Big 12 champions are loaded with elite talent, including:

• L.J. Cryer (15.2 PPG, 100 3-pointers) – Houston’s top scorer.
• Emanuel Sharp (12.6 PPG, 74 3-pointers) – Perimeter sharpshooter.
• Milos Uzan (11.5 PPG, 4.3 APG) – Floor general.
• J’Wan Roberts (10.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG) – Returning after a three-game absence due to an ankle injury.

With NBA prospects and John Wooden Award Odds contenders, Houston is a top national title threat heading into March Madness.

March Madness Starts Here

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SIU Edwardsville’s First NCAA Tournament Appearance

This is SIU Edwardsville’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament, earned by winning the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

The Cougars (same mascot as Houston) are led by:

• Ray’Sean Taylor (19.3 PPG, 297 career 3-pointers) – OVC Player of the Year and the program’s all-time leading scorer.
• Taylor overcame two ACL tears (2020, 2022) and delivered a banner season to lead SIUE to March Madness.

“I want people to know you can bounce back from adversity,” Taylor said.

Familiar Coaching Connection

SIUE coach Brian Barone has history with Kelvin Sampson, as his late father, Tony Barone, coached Texas A&M in the late ‘90s when Sampson was at Oklahoma.

“I respect the heck out of our guys, and we have to go do what we’re capable of,” Barone said. “They have to play us, just like we have to play them.”

Betting Insights & Matchup History

• Houston seeks its seventh straight first-round win.
• The winner faces either No. 8 Gonzaga or No. 9 Georgia.
• John Wooden Award Odds, College Basketball Championship Odds, and First Four betting lines continue to shift.

For the latest insights, Pick Page, and Odds Page updates, and expert picks, visit the Expert Betting Guide for full tournament analysis.

Final Thoughts

Can Houston continue its dominant season, or will SIU Edwardsville make history? With tournament pressure at its peak, expect intensity in Wichita as March Madness tips off.