Houston vs. Kansas odds, prediction, time: 2026 college basketball picks for Feb. 23 from advanced model
CBS Sports
by
Ross Kelly
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Houston Cougars and Kansas Jayhawks, both ranked in the top 25, are set to face off in a crucial Big 12 conference matchup on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. Coming off recent losses, this game could prove pivotal for both teams as they look to regain momentum in their quest for conference supremacy. Houston (23-4, 11-3 Big 12), currently ranked No. 2, has lost two straight games, including a surprising home defeat to Arizona, while Kansas (20-7, 10-4 Big 12), ranked No. 8, fell hard to Cincinnati in a 84-68 loss, marking their largest home loss to an unranked team under head coach Bill Self.
The historical rivalry between these teams shows Houston holding the edge, having won three of the last four matchups, including the most recent encounters. With tipoff set for 9 p.m. ET, Houston is a slight favorite with a 1.5-point spread in DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under total points line is set at 138.5. This game promises to be high-scoring, as both teams have demonstrated strong offensive capabilities in recent outings.
SportsLine's advanced model has simulated this matchup 10,000 times and predicts a high-scoring affair, with the "over" on the total points hitting in 66.1% of simulations. Houston has consistently exceeded the point total in three of its last four road games, while Kansas has eclipsed the over/under in three of its last four home contests
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/23/2026