Big 12 NCAAB Predictions and Odds: UCF Solid Bet to Cover Spread on January 21
- Get the best Big 12 basketball odds at BetUS.
- Take Texas Tech’s JT Toppin as a top player prop option.
- Read on for my top NCAAB predictions for Big 12 teams this week.
Losses by Iowa State and Arizona leaves Houston as the only Big 12 team still perfect in conference play heading into this week. The Cougars enter the week on a 10-game winning streak but a weekend matchup against Kansas could be pretty interesting.

Three of the road teams in action on Tuesday are favored according to the college basketball odds so it could make for some interesting matchups as conference play begins to heat up.
Five of the top 15 teams in the NCAA NET rankings hail from the Big 12 as this is one of the top basketball conferences in the country once again.
Houston (-140) and Iowa State (+180) lead the way in the odds of winning the Big 12 title followed by Arizona at +900.
Let’s check out my best NCAAB predictions this week for the Big 12.
Top 3 Weekly NCAAB Predictions for Big 12
1. UCF +16 to Cover at No. 3 Iowa State
The sense of timing couldn’t be worse for UCF. The Golden Knights are just 2-3 in January with losses to ranked Kansas and Houston teams and now they hit the road to face an Iowa State team coming off its first conference loss of the season.
Iowa State was 1-of-17 from 3-point range in a seven-point loss at West Virginia and the Cyclones had no answer for West Virginia senior guard Javon Small. Iowa State should be ready to go when the Cyclones hit the court on Tuesday.
Back in Hilton on Tuesday.#Cyclones | #C5C pic.twitter.com/kiMlN2HhWV
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) January 19, 2025
Per UCF vs Iowa State stats, the teams met for the first time in March with the Cyclones winning and covering with a 60-52 win as a four-point road favorite. The game landed well under the 133.5-point total.
There is more work to be done for Iowa State this season with the Cyclones favored by 15 points. Iowa State has won its last 10 games as a double-digit favorite but is just 5-5 against the spread in those games. Keep that in mind when making college basketball picks.
Bet This Pick: UCF +16 To Cover (-110)
2. Game of the Week: Houston at Kansas
The Kansas Jayhawks are involved in the Big 12 Game of the Week yet again. Things didn’t go so well for the Jayhawks in the matchup with Iowa State. However, that game was on the road.
Kansas is at home to face the conference-leading Houston Cougars on Saturday. The home team won each of the two meetings last season. The Jayhawks were listed by the NCAAB betting line as a one-point underdog against visiting Houston but came away with the 78-65 victory.
Keep an eye on Houston senior forward J’Wan Roberts, who has 22 and 21 points in his last two games. He averaged 10.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games against the Jayhawks last season, per Houston vs Kansas betting tips.
It has been an interesting stretch for the Jayhawks. They have scored at least 84 points twice in the last five games but also have been held under 60 points on two occasions during the stretch.
After averaging 11.7 points in his previous three games, Kansas star Hunter Dickinson had 25 points on 12 of 19 shooting the last time out. He could factor into the Houston vs Kansas best bets.
3. Texas Tech’s JT Toppin a Top Player Prop Option
It has been a little bit of a bumpy ride for Texas Tech sophomore JT Toppin, who has scored 5, 18, 6 and 20 points in his last four games.
JT Toppin scored 9 pts in our 17-3 game-sealing run 💪
He finished with 2️⃣0️⃣ pts and 1️⃣6️⃣ rebs
Second time this season he’s had 20+ and 16+ in a game (22 pts, 18 rebs vs. Saint Joseph’s). pic.twitter.com/scmkMbeRoq
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) January 18, 2025
Toppin had 16 rebounds, two shy of his season high, in Saturday’s win over Arizona.
When making college basketball prop bets, go with Toppin at +123 to have at least nine rebounds against Cincinnati on Tuesday night. The -110 odds for Toppin to have 14+ points are also worth considering.
Bet On JT Toppin to Have 9+ Rebounds (EV)
Question of the Day
How many Big 12 teams have winning road records this season?
Four. Houston and Texas Tech are both 3-0 on the road while Iowa State and UCF also have posted winning road records.
Who is the top scorer in the Big 12 this season?
West Virginia senior guard Javon Small is averaging 19.8 points per game.
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.