Typically when you hear Houston and Washington are playing on Christmas, you think about the NBA. But in this case, it’s college basketball, with both teams coming into the final of the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii as winners of four of their past five games.

The Cougars have had their best offense come via the glass. They have the top offensive rebound rate in the country, with 42 percent of misses resulting in a second chance. Houston’s big issue, though, is that it gives opponents full possessions, with an opponent turnover-per-possession rate that is 327th in the country.

Washington’s highly touted freshmen, Jaden McDaniels and Isaiah Stewart, are combining for 33.5 points and 14.6 rebounds per game for a team that plays a 2-3 zone, which often catches teams off guard because few use it.

The Huskies also do a good job of forcing teams inside and have the length to alter shots.

Both of these teams are solid down low, and though Houston is the better team at shooting from the perimeter, it is difficult to prepare for the 2-3 zone defense in 48 hours, especially when it is anchored by two of the top 10 recruits in the 2019 class.

The play: Washington, pick ’em.