The Rider Broncs take on the Houston Cougars in Houston, TX. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on TNT.
Houston is favored by -39.5 points on the spread, and the total is set at 132.5 points.
Here’s my Rider vs. Houston predictions and college basketball picks for November 20, 2025.
Rider vs Houston Prediction
My Pick: Houston -38.5
My Rider vs Houston best bet is on the Cougars to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Rider vs. Houston Odds
| Rider Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+39.5 -105 | 132.5 -105 / -115 | OFF |
| Houston Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-39.5 -115 | 132.5 -105 / -115 | OFF |
- Rider vs Houston spread: Houston -39.5
- Rider vs Houston over/under: 132.5 points
Rider vs Houston College Basketball Betting Preview
Rider Basketball
Rider comes into this game 0-3 against Division I opponents this season, as it was severely outclassed by Virginia, Rutgers and Texas.
The Broncs struggle to shoot the ball from outside and their opponents have done a great job of frustrating the offense. Rider is guard heavy with Flash Burton, Zion Cruz and Caleb Smith leading the scoring, but none of them are strong shooters from anywhere on the court.
The Rider post play is substandard — even by MAAC standards — and while the Broncs have done well on the offensive glass, I would expect minimal second-chance opportunities against Houston.
The Rider defense struggles forcing turnovers and the Broncs have allowed 40% of opponent misses to result in offensive rebounds against them.
Rider has sent its opponents to the foul line a ton this season and it ranks in the bottom 20 in college basketball in defensive free throw rate.
Without effective interior defense, this could be a long evening for Rider, and I anticipate that Houston will feast in the paint.
Houston Basketball
Houston is the best defensive team in the country this season, having dominated its first three opponents before defeating a pesky Auburn group on Sunday. Houston has been excellent in altering shots, contesting 3-pointers and protecting the rim.
Kelvin Sampson-coached teams are always going to be scrappy, diving on the floor for loose balls, extending pressure to the wing and maintaining a defensive intensity throughout, even in blowouts. This has resulted in three opponents scoring less than 60 points and every possession being a grind.
For all of the success Houston has had defensively, it's left a little to be desired on the offensive end. The Cougars haven't shot the ball well in the early going and are just 290th in 3-point percentage.
Emanuel Sharp and Kingston Flemings have been electric and Chris Cenac Jr. has been a nice addition to the rotation for Houston while averaging 11 points per contest. If Houston starts making some shots from deep, this team is going to be even more dangerous than it already is.
Rider vs. Houston Betting Analysis
This line and total have come out sharp in my opinion. The total was quickly bet down from 136.5 to 132.5. The Cougars are laying 38.5 (39.5 on some books), and that's the way I'm looking to go in this game.
Houston is so much more supremely talented than Rider, and the defense is going to lead the charge. The Broncs are going to struggle to penetrate the lane, which they'll try to do anyways. Rider shoots 3-point shots at an incredibly low rate and it's only making 23% of those attempts.
Everything this team wants to do will be contested, and I can see Rider getting deep into the shot clock a ton, with many possessions resulting in turnovers or low-percentage shots.
Houston hasn't shot the ball well and has still won its first three games convincingly. The Cougars are equipped with a loaded roster of players who can shoot from anywhere and eventually the shot variance will go their way.
Many of these 3-point misses have been uncontested wide-open shots, and I believe we'll see them go in against the Broncs.
Houston will dominate at the rim in this game and will also pick up points at the foul line. Rider can't defend without fouling and the size and athleticism will be too much for the Broncs.
I expect the Cougars to have an abundance of second-chance points, “And-1” opportunities and a real chance to put up a big number at home.
We haven’t seen Houston crack 80 points this season, but I expect the offense to come to life in this game against one of the worst defensive teams in all of college basketball.
This is a huge number, but the mismatch will be evident on both ends of the floor. Houston needs to find its stroke before the Players Era Festival, so I expect laser-focused offense, and we know the defensive effort will be there.
Houston wins this one big.
My Pick: Houston -38.5
