The Texas Longhorns have been undefeated so far in Big 12 play. Currently, on top of the league standings, the Longhorns will take on the West Virginia Mountaineers on the road in hopes of adding more to their lead in the standings. The Mountaineers can further boost their March Madness resume with a win over Texas.
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Betting Preview for the Texas Longhorns vs West Virginia Mountaineers NCAA College Basketball Game on January 9 2021
Where: Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena
When: Saturday, January 9, 2021, TBA PM ET
Line: Texas Longhorns (odds) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (odds) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: TBA
Betting on the Texas Longhorns (odds)
Record: 9-1 Overall / 3-0 Conference
It’s been a great year so far for the Longhorns. After opening their 2021 schedule by dismantling the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence on Jan. 2, 84-59, Shaka Smart’s Texans took down the Iowa State Cyclones at home last Tuesday, 78-72. Andrew Jones scored 23 points to lead the Longhorns against Iowa State, while all other four starters each chipped in at least 10 points. Texas is averaging 76.0 points per game on the season, but is 14th in adjusted offensive efficiency, as the Longhorns are putting up 112.8 points per 100 possession. And because they control the glass so well and get on the faces of opposing scorers, they are currently third in adjusted defensive efficiency with just 87.9 points allowed per 100 possessions and 30th in the nation with 63.1 points surrendered per contest. The Longhorns are third in the conference with 41.1 rebounds per game and limit opponents to just 38.3 percent shooting from the field. The Longhorns are going to make it extra hard for West Virginia to score, especially when considering that the Mountaineers aren’t great shooters in the first place. West Virginia is making only 41.8 percent of their shots this season.
Texas is 4-0 against the spread in its last four road games.
Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (odds)
Record: 9-3 Overall / 2-2 Conference
The Mountaineers are looking for some consistency when they host the Longhorns this week. West Virginia lost to the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman on Jan. 2, 75-71, then beat the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater last Monday, 87-84. In their first game in Morgantown this year, the Mountaineers want to make a strong statement with a win over Texas. The tandem of Derek Culver and Miles McBride combined for 43 points, with Culver putting up a monster double-double of 22 points and 19 rebounds. West Virginia is going to ride those two players against Texas, but will also hope that Taz Sherman will at least come close to duplicating his performance against the Cowboys in which he had 20 points off the bench. The senior Sherman has been on a roll of late, as he’s also scored 19 points in the loss to Oklahoma. The Mountaineers boast a balanced offense and defense like Texas. They are ranked inside the top 20 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency.
Although they are shooting just 34.1 percent from deep this season, the Mountaineers have hit 23 of their 48 attempts from behind The under is 3-1 in West Virginia’s last four home games.
Writer’s Prediction
West Virginia wins, 71-68.
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