No. 2 Houston Faces No. 4 Arizona in Crucial Big 12 Matchup

HOUSTON – No. 4 Arizona Wildcats (24-2, 11-2 Big 12) visit the No. 2 Houston Cougars (23-3, 11-2 Big 12) on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Fertitta Center in Houston for a highly anticipated Big 12 Conference showdown. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on ABC, with streaming options available through FUBO.

Game Odds and Predictions

As of February 20, 2026, Houston is a 5.5-point favorite over Arizona, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. The moneyline odds are -238 for Houston and +195 for Arizona. The over/under is set at 141.5 points.

Expert Predictions

• Sam Razz (Scott & Holman Pawdcast): Predicts a close game, favoring Houston 77-71, emphasizing the importance of home-court advantage.
• ESPN: Gives Houston a 64.1% chance of winning, while Arizona has a 35.9% probability.
• Dimers: Projects a 74-68 victory for Houston, assigning a 70% win probability to the Cougars and 30% to the Wildcats.
• Odds Shark: Predicts a Houston win but suggests betting on Arizona with the points, anticipating the total score will exceed 141.5.
• The Dunkel Index: Recommends betting on the over, noting that both teams frequently exceed the 141.5-point threshold, combining for an average of 165.5 points per game.
• Covers.com: Indicates that 55% of bets are on Arizona to cover the spread.

Team Performance and Key Players

Houston boasts a 13-0 record at home and outscores opponents by an average of 16.2 points per game, scoring 77.8 points per game. Arizona is 11-2 in Big 12 play and averages 87.7 points per game.

Houston Cougars

• Emanuel Sharp leads the Cougars with an average of 2.8 three-pointers per game, scoring 16.5 points while shooting 38.5% from beyond the arc.
• Kingston Flemings has averaged 16.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.7 steals over the last 10 games.
• Houston shoots 45.2% from the field, 6.1 percentage points higher than Arizona’s opponents allow (39.1%).

Arizona Wildcats

• Brayden Burries averages 1.7 made three-pointers per game, scoring 15.5 points while shooting 37.6% from three-point range.
• Jaden Bradley averages 12.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 1.7 steals over the last 10 games and leads the Wildcats with 4.7 assists per game. Arizona is third in the Big 12 with 17.7 assists per game.
• Arizona scores 26.1 more points per game (87.7) than Houston allows (61.6).

Looking Ahead

This marks the first conference game between the Cougars and Wildcats this season. The outcome will have significant implications for the Big 12 standings as both teams vie for conference supremacy.