Texas Tech raids Oklahoma territory for a grand Big 12 matchup this coming Saturday. The Red Raiders are looking to improve upon a less than stellar 6-4 conference record if they hope to budge their prospects for the tournament where they are currently priced at +6000 to win the College Basketball National Championship. NCAA Futures look much more bleak for the Sooners (3-7 conference record) however, as they are listed at just +12500 to win the end-game. The sportsbook favors the Red Raiders in this one, but by no means is a Texas Tech win a forgone conclusion. Then, there’s the spread, as Texas Tech is hurting with a dismal on-the-road ATS record while the Sooners look much better at home in that capacity. Read below for all the details.
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Betting Preview for the Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Oklahoma Sooners College Basketball Game on February 9, 2019
Where: Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, Oklahoma
When: Saturday, February 9, 2019, 4:00 PM ET
Line: Texas Tech Red Raiders (odds) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Texas Tech Red Raiders (18-5 Overall / 6-4 Conference)
No. 18 ranked Texas Tech started the second half of its Big 12 conference slate with some swagger. The Red Raiders defeated West Virginia by nearly 30-points (81-50) on Monday at the United Supermarkets Arena in their final conference meeting of the season. The Red Raiders really found their groove in the second half, dominating the Mountaineers 45-29, and by the end of the game a total of five Red Raiders each tallied double digits in points scored.
There were some issues on the defensive end for the squad, getting themselves in foul trouble more than coach Chris Beard was comfortable with, although with a 81-50 scoreboard you can’t knock that kind of a aggression. If a few extra fouls is a cost of winning games in this manner then so be it, right? The other concern is Tech’s penchant for starting games off slow, which they also did with no.11 Kansas last Saturday, except that time they took the brunt of a 79-63 loss. Some may cite momentum of that superior second half finish against West Virginia, but let’s be honest, that was five days ago and a second half performance doesn’t carry momentum that far.
On the road so far this season, Texas Tech is 4-4 straight up (SU) but just 1-6 against the spread (ATS) which has bettors looking closely. Take note that the Red Raiders defeated the Sooners 66-59 on Jan. 8 in conference play.
Betting on the Oklahoma Sooners (15-8 Overall / 3-7 Conference)
Oklahoma dropped a painful one on Monday against Iowa State. In the 75-74 loss the Sooners lost its third straight Big 12 contest.
Shooting woes continued to plague the Sooners backcourt pair of shooting guard Christian James and point guard Aaron Calixte. The due shot a combined 5 of 20 from the floor for a pitiful total of 13-points. But therein lies the truth – head coach Lon Kruger’s team kept the game tight even though its top shooters missed the mark.
James and Calixte have played under par for the last three games, and whether or not you put stock on the whole “bad things come in threes” you must admit that the duo’s poor showing is due for correction. Factor in the fact that Kristian Doolittle is feeling it after filling in the gaps to have one of his best games of the season with 19 points on 8/13 shooting, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Then there’s Brady Manek who found his shooting form to finish with 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the field and 4 of 7 from the three-point zone. Pair their momentum with the inevitable return to form for the backcourt and Oklahoma just might pull this next one off in fine fashion.
At home so far this season, Oklahoma is 10-3 SU and an equal 10-3 ATS.
Writer’s Prediction
Don’t call it a shocker – Oklahoma wins and covers with a final score of 82-70.
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