The Idaho Vandals will meet the Houston Cougars in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. The game is set for March 19, 2026, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK. Fans can catch the action at 10:10 PM ET on truT.
Idaho enters the tournament as the 15 seed from the Big Sky Conference. They finished the regular season with a 21-14 record. Houston, ranked #5 in the AP Poll, holds the 2 seed from the Big 12 Conference with a 28-6 record. The Cougars have a strong history in recent tournaments, making it to the championship game last year.
Idaho Vandals Team Preview
The Idaho Vandals have been on a winning streak. They secured victories against Montana, Eastern Washington, and Montana State. These wins have boosted their confidence for the upcoming games.
The Vandals have a solid offensive record this season. They average 78.7 points per game and have a 53.1 effective field goal percentage. Their three-point shooting is strong, with 10 threes made per game at a 35.6% rate.
On the defensive side, the Vandals need to improve. They average just 5.9 steals and 2.3 blocks per game. Reducing turnovers and fouls will be key as they continue the season.
Houston Cougars Team Preview
The Houston Cougars are coming off a season with a solid 28-6 overall record. In their conference, they finished with a 16-5 record. The Cougars hold the 5th spot in the AP rankings, showing their strong presence in the Big 12 conference.
Joseph Tugler has been a standout player for the Cougars. In a recent game against Arizona, he scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. His performance, along with the contributions of players like Kingston Flemings, has been key to the team’s success.
This season, the Cougars are scoring an average of 77.1 points per game. They attempt 61.7 field goals per game with a shooting percentage of 45.0%. Their defense has been effective, with 7.7 steals and 3.8 blocks per game.
Betting Prediction
The Houston Cougars have a strong record, winning 30 out of 34 games last season. They have been reliable, especially when they are favorites. The spread of -23.5 seems manageable for them given Idaho’s weaker stats.
Idaho struggles against the spread, with a record of 13-17-3 last season. Their performance as underdogs is also low at 45.8%. This makes it less likely for them to cover a large spread against a team like Houston.
Houston’s defensive stats show they allow fewer possessions per game, which can stifle Idaho’s offense. Idaho has a lower field goal percentage, making it hard to score against Houston’s defense. All these factors point to Houston covering the spread.
- Pick: Houston -23.5
