Arizona vs Houston: 3 Player Props and Best Bet for Saturday, February 21

The Big 12 has a top-5 showdown on Saturday when the No. 4-ranked Arizona Wildcats (24-2, 11-2 Big 12) head east to take on the No. 2-ranked Houston Cougars (23-3, 11-2 Big 12).

Arizona was ranked atop the AP poll until last week when the team lost a pair of games against No. 9 Kansas and No. 16 Texas Tech. The Wildcats got back to their winning ways on Wednesday when they took down the No. 23-ranked BYU Cougars.

The Cougars could drop this week from the No. 2 spot after falling to No. 6-ranked Iowa State on Monday. That was their first loss in their past seven games, and forcing Houston into a tie with Arizona for the conference’s top spot.

Saturday’s winner will be in the driver’s seat for the regular season race, but both squads face multiple top-10 opponents in their final four games before the tournament. Read on as we cover our top three player props and our best bet for this Big 12 matchup.

Houston Cougars’ Kingston Flemings UNDER 19.5 Points

Kingston Flemings is an unsung hero for the Cougars thus far. The 6-foot-4 freshman is averaging 16.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists for Houston in his debut season. He’s also hitting just under 50 percent of his shots.

Flemings will be needed against the Wildcats. Despite the guard dropping 22 points against Iowa State on Wednesday, bettors should not expect him to duplicate that performance. Take him to finish below the 19.5-point mark when Flemings matches up with Arizona for the first time this season.

Arizona Wildcats’ Brayden Burries OVER 4.5 Rebounds

Freshman Brayden Burries has been as consistent as they come this season. The 6-foot-4 guard has started every game for the Wildcats thus far, and he’s averaging 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists for the Big 12 school.

Burries points may get him recognized, but his rebounding ability is just as valuable. In six of his last eight outings, Burries finished with at least five rebounds. Take him to do that again on Saturday against the Cougars.

Houston Cougars’ Chris Cenac Jr. OVER 15.5 Pts + Reb

Freshman Chris Cenac Jr. has taken the Big 12 by storm. The 6-foot-11 forward is averaging 9.5 points and 7.6 rebounds this season, averaging nearly 25 minutes per contest thus far. He’s also connected on more than half of his shots this season.

The Cougars will need every rebound and point Cenac can provide against Arizona. He’s hit his combo prop bet total in five of his past seven games, including Wednesday’s loss to Iowa State. That makes him a strong bet to secure at least 16 combined points and rebounds on Saturday.

Best Bet: Arizona (+5.5)

The Wildcats have been on cruise control for much of their Big 12 conference play. Arizona had won seven of their first 10 games by double-digit margins. Their struggles have come against other ranked opponents, showing how strong the top of the conference is.

Still, oddsmakers are doubting the Wildcats’ ability to perform on the biggest stage. Entering this contest as a 4.5-point underdog is wild, considering Arizona’s losses this year have been by four or fewer points. Take the visiting team to cover their underdog status on Saturday.