The 2023 AAC Tournament quarterfinals feature the top-seeded Houston Cougars (29-2) and the No. 9 seed East Carolina Pirates (16-16) colliding on Friday afternoon. The Cougars have dominated the series against the Pirates, owning a 17-6 record. Houston has won two straight and 11 of its last 12 head-to-head outings. On Feb. 23, Houston topped ECU 76-57.
Tipoff from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas is set for 1 p.m. ET. The Cougars are 23-point favorites in the latest East Carolina vs. Houston odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 133.5. Before making any Houston vs. East Carolina picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters conference tournament week 76-51 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,200 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now the model has zeroed in on Houston vs. ECU and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several college basketball odds and betting lines for ECU vs. Houston:
- Houston vs. East Carolina spread: Cougars -23
- Houston vs. East Carolina over/under: 133.5 points
- Houston vs. East Carolina money line: Cougars -7000, Pirates +1800
- ECU: Pirates are 5-0 ATS in their last five neutral site games
- HOU: Cougars are 7-0 ATS in their last seven Friday games
- Houston vs. East Carolina picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Houston can cover
Freshman forward Jarace Walker is a strong and powerful force in the frontcourt. Walker plays top-notch defense against multiple positions. The Pennsylvania native can be tough to stop when attacking the lane due to his brute strength. Walker averages 11.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. In the Mar. 2 bout against Wichita State, he had 13 points and nine boards.
Junior guard Tramon Mark is another exceptional and athletic defender. Mark has great lateral quickness and runs with sound instincts. The Texas native likes to get into the paint and score in the lane. Mark logs 10 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. On Feb. 25 against East Carolina, he had 20 points and nine boards.
Why East Carolina can cover
Sophomore guard RJ Felton has a smooth offensive game that includes a reliable jumper. Felton owns good range from the perimeter with the ability to penetrate the lane. The South Carolina native leads the team in scoring (14 ppg) with 4.5 rebounds per game. He's recorded 20-plus points in two of his last three games. On Mar. 9 against South Florida, Felton logged 21 points, seven rebounds and went 4-of-10 from downtown.
Sophomore Brandon Johnson is an athletic and strong finisher in the lane. Johnson has long arms and is relentless when fighting for the ball. The North Carolina native is third in the AAC in rebounds (8.2) with 12.5 points per contest. He's recorded 10 double-doubles over the season. On March 3, Johnson tallied 11 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks against Tulane.
How to make East Carolina vs. Houston picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 138 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Houston vs. ECU? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.
