Houston Cougars vs Baylor Bears Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Saturday, January 10, 2026

By: David Anicetti Published 01/10/2026, 01:20 AM ET

The Houston Cougars travel to Waco to face the Baylor Bears on Saturday afternoon in a Big 12 matchup. Houston is 14-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play, tied for first place in the Big 12, and is coming off a 69-65 home win over Texas Tech. Baylor is 10-4 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play, tied for last place in the conference, after a 70-60 home loss to Iowa State. Cash a winning ticket with our free college basketball picks.

Houston vs Baylor Game Information

  • Date: Saturday, January 10
  • Time: 1:00 PM ET
  • Location: Foster Pavilion, Waco, TX
  • TV: Peacock, NBCSN

Houston Cougars Outlook

Houston continues to play well defensively, holding opponents to just 60.3 points per game and controlling the tempo in half-court settings. Kingston Flemings leads the Cougars in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game on 53.5% shooting and also tops the team with 5.0 assists per game, giving Houston a playmaker who limits mistakes. Emanuel Sharp adds 16.0 points per game and stretches defenses enough to keep the floor balanced.

In the frontcourt, Chris Cenac Jr. controls the glass with 7.7 rebounds per game, while Joseph Tugler protects the rim at 1.7 blocks per contest. Houston’s success in conference play has been driven by defensive rebounding, disciplined shot selection, and an ability to avoid costly turnovers in close games.

Key Stats Per Game

  • Points: 77.3
  • Points Allowed: 60.3
  • Rebounds: 37.8
  • Assists: 15.7
  • Steals: 8.9
  • Blocks: 3.9
  • Turnovers: 8.9

Baylor Bears Outlook

Baylor plays at a faster pace and averages 90.7 points per game, but defensive breakdowns have hurt the Bears early in Big 12 action. Cameron Carr leads the team with an average of 20.7 points per game on 55.6% shooting and also contributes 1.7 blocks per game, giving Baylor a reliable scorer who has an impact at both ends of the court. Tounde Yessoufou adds 18.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

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Caden Powell anchors the paint with 8.4 rebounds per game, while Obi Agbim runs the offense with an average of 3.7 assists per game. Baylor has struggled to string together stops and has come up scoreless in too many possessions, which has made it difficult to compete against more talented opponents.

Key Stats Per Game

  • Points: 90.7
  • Points Allowed: 74.1
  • Rebounds: 41.4
  • Assists: 17.7
  • Steals: 7.2
  • Blocks: 5.4
  • Turnovers: 11.4

Houston Cougars vs Baylor Bears Prediction

Houston’s discipline on defense and ability to control possessions on offense create a difficult matchup for a Baylor team still searching for consistency in conference play, after falling to Iowa State. The Cougars are comfortable slowing the game, limiting second-chance points, and forcing opponents to execute in the half-court. Baylor’s scoring keeps it competitive early, but Houston’s offense and control of the boards will be a deciding factor in the outcome. Final Score Prediction: Houston Cougars win and cover ATS, 77-68.

Best Picks

  • Houston Cougars
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