Stephen F. Austin is back in the Big Dance after seeing its three-year streak of National Tournament appearances end in 2017. In their return, the Lumberjacks get Texas Tech in a game between two stud defensive squads. Let’s break down the game.
Betting Preview for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders College Basketball Game on March 15, 2018
Where: American Airlines Center – TX
When: Thursday, March 15, 7:27 PM ET
Line: Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (n/a) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (n/a) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: truTV
Betting on the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
Stephen F. Austin is not fooling around on the court. The Lumberjacks play right in the face of their opponent and takes it to them. There simply is no time to relax against this team, as the Lumberjacks are a terror on defense. They are the best in the nation when it comes to picking pockets with an average of 9.4 steals per game. As a result, their opponents commit the most turnovers in Division I basketball with 19.0 a game. And because they routinely force teams to cough up possessions, their opponents manage to jack off only 50.9 shots per contest compared to Stephen F. Austin’s 58.0. When the Lumberjacks won against SE Louisiana in Southland Conference Tournament title game, they made the Lions turn the ball over 15 times.
Betting on the Texas Tech Red Raiders
Coincidentally, the Red Raiders’ last game was against a team that plays like Stephen F. Austin. Texas Tech went up against West Virginia and its pesky defense in the Big 12 Tournament title match, and while the Red Raiders lost, 66-63, they managed to commit just 10 turnovers opposite “Press Virginia.” Texas Tech knows defense too and it is a team that is very much capable of shoving a dose of Stephen F. Austin’s medicine right down the Lumberjacks’ throat. The Red Raiders are allowing just 64.7 points per game with opponents shooting just 40.3 percent against them. Furthermore, their defense is rated third in KenPom. Keenan Allen, who scored at least 23 points in two of the Red Raiders’ last three games, leads the team with 17.5 PPG.
Writer’s Prediction
Texas Tech takes care of business in a 78-71 win.
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