Baylor got a much-needed 71-62 win over No. 10 West Virginia last time out to arrest a recent skid of three losses in four games. With point guard Manu Lecomte missing, junior forward Johnathan Motley took matters into his own hands with 23 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Bears. Jo Lual-Acuil had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards, while Al Freeman added 12 points off the bench.
It remains to be seen whether Lecomte will be ready to return over the weekend for Baylor’s visit to Texas. However, the Bears didn’t really need their point guard, who had just 5 points and 2 assists in their first meeting against the Longhorns in Waco. That’s because Motley ran riot with 32 points and 20 boards – both career-highs – to lead the Bears to a 74-64 home win.
Baylor is 5-4 (straight up and against the spread) on the road during conference play this season, including back-to-back losses to Texas Tech and Iowa State. However, they have won their last two visits to Austin, and are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 road games against Texas.
Betting on the Texas Longhorns (10-20, 4-13 Big 12)
Texas just wants to get this terrible season over with. The Longhorns will have their fewest wins in 23 years as head coach Shaka Smart has had disastrous sophomore season. They have lost their last six games, the last three of which have come by 10 or more points. Their most recent loss came at the hands of Texas Tech, 67-57. The Longhorns have now covered just once in their last eight games (1-6-1 ATS).
Freshman Jarrett Allen was limited to just 10 points against Tech. However, he’s been one of the team’s few bright spots this season. He had averaged nearly 18 points and 8.5 rebounds in his previous eight games. Allen also led the Longhorns with 17 points and 10 rebounds in their first meeting against Baylor.
Despite a disappointing season which has seen them drop to the very bottom of the Big 12 standings, Texas has been somewhat decent at home. All four of their conference wins have come at Frank Erwin Center, and three of their four losses have come by three points or fewer.
Writer’s Prediction
Texas once again puts up a fight in front of its home fans, but Motley is too much for them to handle as Baylor (-6) comes away with the 71-65 win.
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