It’s been a rollercoaster ride lately for the No. 2 West Virginia Mountaineers, who will surely skid down the AP Poll rankings following back-to-back losses to Texas Tech and Kansas. They can’t afford to lose to the unranked Texas Longhorns this Saturday. Otherwise, they will most likely fall out of the top 10. Will the Longhorns give WVU its third-straight loss? Or will the Mountaineers prevent that scenario from happening? Register to bet and wager with your pick.
Betting Preview for the Texas Longhorns vs West Virginia Mountaineers NCAA Basketball Game on January 20 2018
Where: WVU Coliseum
When: Saturday, January 20 2:00 PM EST
Line: Texas Longhorns (n/a) vs West Virginia Mountaineers (n/a) –view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Texas Longhorns (11-6)
After facing the No. 8 Texas Tech Red Raiders Wednesday, the Longhorns will find themselves on the court against an almost identical team as the Red Raiders in the form of the Mountaineers. Like Texas Tech, Bob Huggins’ team plays with harassing, no-let up defense. Texas could combat the Mountaineers’ dreaded press, though, as the Longhorns play deliberate basketball, which is why they are just 293rd in the nation in adjusted tempo per KenPom. West Virginia should also have trouble containing Texas big man Mohamed Bamba, who is a beast on the floor. The 6-foot-11 freshman is averaging 11.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.4 blocks per game. Bamba is the single biggest reason why the Longhorns are ninth in the nation in blocks with 6.1 per contest. That also explains the Longhorns’ terrific defense that allows just 65.8 points per game – good for 35th in the nation.
Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (15-2)
The Mountaineers merely don’t want to slide down further in the rankings when they host Texas this Saturday. Their loss to No. 10 Kansas last Monday was a letdown for the Mountaineers, as they simply did not have enough firepower to keep in step in that game with the Jayhawks. Against Texas, though, West Virginia should have fewer problems matching up on offense. The Mountaineers play a frenetic pace that lets them score 81.2 points per game. They have plenty of quick guards, led by senior Jevon Carter, who scored 14 points in the loss to Kansas. He had 28 in the prior setback at the hands of No. 8 Texas Tech.
The key for West Virginia is for it to control the pace, and not allow Texas to slow down the game because if that happens, the Mountaineers will have huge problems stopping Bamba.
West Virginia will be all over Texas’ ball carriers in this game. It is third in the league in steals with 9.7 per game.
Writer’s Prediction:
West Virginia wins, 72-68.
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