FAIR FARES
Houston airport flies high as one of the cheapest in Texas
Jul 9, 2019, 4:47 pm
FAIR FARES
This article originally appeared on CultureMap.
If you're flying out of town soon and your ticket says Hobby Airport, we've got good news for you. A recent study by personal finance site FinanceBuzzcompared domestic roundtrip airfare at 45 of the busiest airports in America, finding Hobby is one of the cheapest in Texas.
It ranks No. 21 overall, behind Dallas Love Field at No. 8, with an average ticket price of $338.79. When you factor in the airport's "passenger volume rank" — it gets a 45, meaning Hobby (HOU) is the least busy airport in the study (each included airport serviced at least 100,000 passengers a year).
Dallas Love Field (DAL) — the cheapest in Texas — rings up at $303.32 and a volume rank of 37, while Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) comes in at No. 23 overall, costing an average of $341.51 with a volume rank of 25.
Flying out of elsewhere in Texas? It'll cost you.
Continue reading on CultureMap to find out how much.
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.
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.
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.
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.