Texas Longhorns vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Preview
Where: WVU Coliseum — Morgantown, West Virginia
When: Monday, February 20, 2017, 9:00 PM ET
Line: Texas Longhorns (+15.5) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (-15.5); total: 143.5 – view all NCAA Basketball lines
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Betting on the Texas Longhorns (10-17, 4-10 Big 12)
This past Saturday, the Longhorns suffered another crushing loss, as Kansas State escaped with a 64-61 win. It’s their ninth defeat this season that are by five points or less.
Though they have four players that average points in double figures – Tevin Mack (14.8 PPG), Jarrett Allen (13.2 PPG), Andrew Jones (11.3 PPG), and Kerwin Roach (10.1 PPG) – the offense has been mostly non-existent in this year’s dismal campaign. Texas is putting up mediocre numbers of 68.6 PPG on 44.4 percent shooting, hence the low spot in offensive efficiency rankings (184th).
The poor showing on offense is really frustrating, because all things considered, their defense is incredibly good, so much so that they are the only top 25-ranked defense with a losing record. Their D only permits 69 PPG and a 42.2 shooting percentage.
Texas is 0-10 on the road this season (6-4 ATS).
Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (21-6, 9-5 Big 12)
After choking against Kansas last week, where they blew a 14-point lead in the final three minutes of the game, the Mountaineers redeemed themselves with a thrilling 83-74, double-OT win over Texas Tech. Jevon Carter scored a team-high 24 points, while Tarik Philip had an all-around stat line for a PG – 15 points, six assists, and four steals. It was West Virginia’s first OT win this season in four tries.
Carter, who’s one of the better two-way players in the nation, is averaging 12.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.9 steals on the year.
The junior will have an interesting matchup versus the Longhorns’ stoppers, but he and his crew will also boast a terrific defense, as five Mountaineers are netting at least 1.1 steals per contest. Additionally, WVU’s D is giving up fewer points per game (66.8) and it is rated higher in the defensive efficiency (seventh) than the Longhorns.
The Mountaineers are 16-3 at home this season (10-9 ATS).
Writer’s Prediction
WVU (-15.5) wins, 74-66, and doesn’t cover the spread.
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