Oregon State Beavers vs. Houston Cougars Betting Preview
29 March 2021
Oregon State needed to win the Pac-12 Tournament just to reach the field of 68, but they have been on quite a roll. The Beavers are the number 12 seed in the Midwest, but they have won three games by an average of 10 points per game.
Houston survived a scare from Rutgers in the Second Round, but the Cougars were sharp in the Sweet 16 win over Syracuse. The Cougars have lost just three games all season long and are a real threat to win a title.
The Houston Cougars are 7.5-point favorites over the Oregon State Beavers in the Midwest Region.
Beavers Must Make Shots
If Oregon State is going to pull off another shocking upset, they are going to have to shoot it well from deep. The Beavers are shooting 35 percent from the three-point line this season, and they have the ability to get hot in a hurry.
Oregon State wants to speed up the tempo on Monday night and look for scoring opportunities before Houston can set its defense. Guard Ethan Thompson leads the team with 15.8 points and 3.8 assists per game, and he needs to take over this game.
Momentum can play a huge role in the NCAA Tournament, and the Beavers are one of the hottest teams in the country.
Houston Defense Getting it Done
The Houston Cougars have some players that can really score, but they prefer to win games on the defensive end of the floor. Houston is allowing just 57.5 points per game this season and held Syracuse to just 46 points on Saturday night.
Quentin Grimes is the offensive star for the Cougars, leading the team with 18 points per game. DeJon Jarreau is averaging a team-high of 4.3 assists per game, and he gets things rolling for this offense.
Houston does not have a ton of future NBA talent on the roster, but few teams play as hard as the Cougars. This team just continues to come after opponents, and they are one of the toughest teams in the country.
Cougars Outlast Beavers
This is not going to be a high-scoring affair, and that should keep the final score close. Oregon State has shown the ability to put up points in a hurry, but Houston is too good defensively to let that happen.
The Cougars have been one of the top teams in the country, and they are going to find a way to get the job done on Monday night. Oregon State has had a terrific run, but they are going to come up a few points short in the Midwest Region.
Take the Oregon State Beavers +7.5 as they keep it close against the Houston Cougars on Monday night.
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