#774 ASA PLAY ON Houston -24 over Longwood, Friday at 9:20 PM ET - We know the Cougs will come out with their pants on fire so to speak as they are off a terrible, embarrassing 28 point loss in the Big 12 Championship game vs ISU, their worst loss since 2014. That provides great motivation for a team that is already one of the top few teams in the country. Houston’s defense should completely shut down this Longwood offense. The Cougars rank 2nd in the nation in defensive efficiency, 2nd in eFG% allowed, and 3rd at creating turnovers. That’s all bad news for Longwood who doesn’t shoot it very well (240th in eFG%), doesn’t make many 3’s (5.6 per game – 330th nationally) and turns the ball over at a high rated. In fact, the Lancers ranked dead last in the Big South Conference in offensive turnover rate despite the fact the conference doesn’t have a single team ranked inside the top 75 creating turnovers. Much is made of Houston’s defense, but their offense ranks in the top 20 nationally in efficiency and they should have plenty of extra possession on the offensive glass and creating turnovers. Longwood’s defense ranks outside the top 200 in eFG% allowed, 2 point FG% allowed, and 3 point FG% allowed. Houston will put up points here. We highly doubt Longwood gets out of the 40’s in this game which means Houston won’t have to go crazy offensively to cover this game. Low to mid 70’s for the Cougs should be enough to get the cover.