Houston Cougars vs Auburn Tigers Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 11/16/25

A headline college hoops matchup takes center stage during the NFL madness on Sunday when the Houston Cougars and the Auburn Tigers meet for the third time in 4 years. Both teams enter this matchup with perfect 3-0 records, but Auburn had to work hard in the first game of the year at home against Bethune Cookman to maintain that perfection – a game that went to overtime despite the Tigers laying close to 25 points. Meanwhile, Houston’s closest contest was an 18-point win, also in the first game of the season. 

This game is a proverbial measuring stick for each team, as well as new Auburn head coach Steven Pearl – son of former coach Bruce Pearl. Bruce left behind a solid roster for his son, but there’s not a ton of size or shooting on Auburn’s current squad – which could be detrimental against a team like Houston. Without size to win the rebounding battle and perimeter shooting to extend the Cougars defensively, the Tigers may find it extremely difficult to put the ball in the hoop on Saturday in a semi-neutral venue in Birmingham. 

While they haven’t been truly tested yet, the Cougars are up to their same ole’ schtick: defense, defense and more defense. Houston sits 1st nationally in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency – yielding an effective field goal percentage of just 39.1% – while sitting top-25 in opposing turnover rate. Through about 2 weeks of the season, Houston’s Joseph Tugler is the best defender in the country per Evan Miya, which should put a damper on Auburn F Keyshawn Hall’s 24.3 points per game. 

There’s a solid amount of continuity on Houston’s roster. With Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp leading the way along with Tugler supporting the back-end of the defense, the Cougars are going to be difficult for anyone to beat. They are also potentially playing with a little bit of a revenge angle after Auburn beat them 74-69 in Houston at the Toyota Center last year. Unfortunately for the Tigers, Johni Broome is no longer on the team to provide 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Houston by margin. 

Houston vs Auburn prediction: Houston Cougars -7 (-110) at the time of publishing. Playable to -7.5.

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