SUPPORT THE 'STROS
6 best Houston bars and restaurants to cheer on the Astros
Oct 4, 2019, 9:04 am
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
This article originally appeared on CultureMap.
Having finished with the best record in baseball, the Astros are the odds-on favorite to win the World Series. As 2017's run to the team's first title demonstrated, Houstonians go baseball crazy when the 'Stros are in the playoffs.
Frankly, watching sports is more fun in a group. Sweating out every pitch and cheering every home run is just better when surrounded by people who are locked in on every moment.
With that in mind, consider this list of recently opened or significantly renovated options for watching sports (roughly in the last year or so). While the focus is on the Astros, they'll also be handy should the Texans get things figured out or if the Rockets' union of James Harden and Russell Westbrook proves to be as dominant as it has the potential to be.
Electric FeelGood
Yes, the neon signage and slide might lead some to believe Midtown's newest bar is just a party spot, but it's got legit sports bar amenities, including lots of TVs downstairs and a room upstairs with a panel that can display eight different games at once. During Astros games, the bar's specials include beer buckets ($15 for domestics and $20 for imports) and discounts on snacks ($6 potato bombs and $10 flatbreads).
The Dogwood, Electric FeelGood's sister concept, isn't new, but it has specials of its own, including $14 buckets of Miller Lite or Coors Light, $5 pours of Jim Beam, $5 bowls of queso, $6 pulled pork sandwiches, and a dozen wings for $12.
Jack & Ginger’s
The Irish pub will have its TVs tuned in to the 'Stros throughout the playoffs. In addition to its typical happy hour deals on wine, appetizers, and beer flights (Monday through Friday 11 am to 9 pm), the bar will run game day specials of $5 Karbach Crawford Bocks and $5 Irish chips and dip (potato chips with smoked cheddar and French onion dip).
Pitch 25
Sure, this EaDo spot has a soccer theme, but the massive beer garden works for watching more than the beautiful game. They'll open early for Friday's 1 pm start. With 100 taps of beer and wine, finding the perfect pairing for that smoked turkey sandwich is a cinch.
Continue on CultureMap to see three more great spots to watch the Astros.
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Wichita, Kansas – Saturday, 8:40 p.m. EDT
The No. 1 seed Houston Cougars (31-4) take on the No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs (26-8) in a highly anticipated second-round showdown of the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars, dominant in the Big 12 with a 22-1 record, bring the nation’s top-ranked defense to the court, while the Bulldogs, the West Coast Conference powerhouse, counter with one of the most efficient offenses in the country.
Defense vs. offense: The ultimate battle
Houston boasts the best defense in the Big 12, holding opponents to just 57.9 points per game on 38.1% shooting. The Cougars will be tasked with slowing down a Gonzaga squad that averages 84.6 points per game over its last 10 outings and shoots an impressive 50.1% from the field.
On the other side, Houston’s offense is averaging 72.1 points per game in its last 10 contests, a figure that will be tested against a Gonzaga defense allowing 67.6 points per game. The Cougars have a slight edge from beyond the arc, making 8.1 three-pointers per game compared to Gonzaga’s 7.3 allowed.
Key players to watch
For Houston, LJ Cryer has been the go-to scorer, averaging 15.2 points per game, while Milos Uzan has stepped up recently, contributing 14.7 points over the last 10 games. The Cougars will also lean on their defensive intensity and ability to force turnovers to disrupt Gonzaga’s rhythm.
Gonzaga is led by Graham Ike, who is averaging 17 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Khalif Battle has also been a key contributor, posting 15.3 points and 1.6 steals per game in the past 10 contests. The Bulldogs’ ball movement will be crucial, as they average 20.4 assists per game in their last 10 contests, a stark contrast to Houston’s 9.0.
Game outlook
Houston enters as a 5.5-point favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 140.5 points. If the Cougars can impose their defensive will and limit Gonzaga’s transition game, they stand a strong chance of advancing. However, if the Bulldogs find their offensive groove early, Houston may be in for its toughest test of the tournament so far.
Expect an intense, physical battle where the team that dictates the tempo will likely punch its ticket to the Sweet 16.