Kennesaw State Owls vs Sam Houston Picks and Prediction for Friday March 13 2026
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The Kennesaw State Owls face the Sam Houston Bearkats in the CUSA Championship Semifinal on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 PM ET with television coverage on CBSSN. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily predictions and betting insights.
Kennesaw State Bringing High-Scoring Offense into the Semifinal
Kennesaw State enters the CUSA Championship Semifinal with a 19-13 overall record and a 10-10 mark in Conference USA play. The Owls advanced to this round after recently winning over Western Kentucky 96-87 in the tournament quarterfinal. Over their last five games, Kennesaw State has recently won over Western Kentucky, Delaware, and Liberty while recently losing to New Mexico State and UTEP.
On the season, Kennesaw State averages 83.5 points per game while allowing 76.7 points per contest. The Owls shoot 44% from the field and average 40.6 rebounds and 14.5 assists per game. Defensively, they contribute 5.4 blocks and 6.9 steals per contest while relying on rebounding and interior defense to remain competitive in high-scoring matchups.
The Owls’ most recent win over Western Kentucky highlighted their offensive firepower as they scored 96 points in the quarterfinal. With the team playing on a short turnaround heading into the semifinal, maintaining that pace and shooting efficiency will be critical. Their ability to control the boards and push tempo will likely determine whether they can keep pace with another strong offensive opponent.
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Sam Houston Building Confidence After Quarterfinal Win
Sam Houston enters the semifinal with a 22-10 overall record and a 13-7 mark in CUSA play. The Bearkats advanced after recently winning over New Mexico State 69-61 in the quarterfinal round. Over their last five games, Sam Houston has recently won over New Mexico State, Missouri State, and FIU while recently losing to Liberty and Delaware.
The Bearkats average 82.5 points per game while allowing 74.0 points per contest this season. Sam Houston shoots 46% from the field and averages 40.8 rebounds and 15.4 assists per game. Defensively, the Bearkats contribute 2.9 blocks and 7.1 steals per contest while using rebounding and ball movement to create scoring opportunities.
In the quarterfinal victory over New Mexico State, Kashie Natt led the Bearkats with 17 points while also dominating the glass with 16 rebounds. Sam Houston finished with a massive 50 rebounds in the game, showing their ability to control the boards even when the offense struggled to shoot efficiently. That rebounding advantage and physical play inside could become a key factor in this semifinal matchup.
Kennesaw State vs Sam Houston Pick
Kennesaw State vs Sam Houston Spread Pick
- Pick: Sam Houston Moneyline
Sam Houston’s rebounding advantage could play a major role in this matchup, especially after grabbing 50 rebounds in their quarterfinal victory. While Kennesaw State has shown strong scoring ability, they are also playing on a quick turnaround after an emotional high-scoring win. The Bearkats’ ability to control the glass and limit second-chance opportunities should help them dictate the pace and secure the victory.
Kennesaw State vs Sam Houston Total Pick
- Pick: Over 156.5
I like the over in this matchup because both teams average over 80 points per game and prefer to play at a faster tempo. Kennesaw State just scored 96 points in its last outing, while Sam Houston has shown the ability to push the pace offensively throughout the season. With both teams capable of scoring in transition and generating second-chance points, I expect enough offensive opportunities for this game to turn into a high-scoring semifinal.
Final Score Prediction: Sam Houston 85, Kennesaw State 80
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