Longhorns, Red Raiders Spar in Texas Showdown of Ranked Teams

Two very similar defensive-minded teams tip off in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday night as the fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns host the No. 15 Texas Tech Red Raiders. Texas (10-1 SU, 6-5 ATS) looks to stay unbeaten in Big 12 play while Texas Tech (10-3 SU, 5-8 ATS) has covered the spread just once in its last eight outings.  

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The line opened at -3.5 for the Longhorns and has stayed pretty much locked at that number. The total has been trending upward after Sportsbook at a very modest 132.5. With money pouring in on the OVER, the total is on the rise and has gone up to 135.

Texas Tech News & Notes

While struggling in conference play, the Red Raiders have nonetheless been impressive so far this season. They are coming off back-to-back wins by double digits, most recently trouncing Iowa State by 27 points on its home court.

Chris Beard’s squad is led by junior Mac McClung, a transfer from Georgetown. McClung started the season ice-cold but has been on a shooting rampage the past two games, going a blistering 14-for-21 from the field.

Texas Tech ranks 10th in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 58 points per game. At the other end of the floor, the Red Raiders are rock solid, averaging just over 75 points per game.

Texas News & Notes

In his sixth season in Austin, head coach Shaka Smart has without question the most talented roster of his career, with a starting lineup made up entirely of players who were nationally ranked among the top 50 high school recruits.

The Longhorns are led by senior Matt Coleman, who tops the Big 12 in minutes per game (35.1) and is coming off a game-winning three-pointer against West Virginia on Saturday. Coleman is second on the team in scoring and is one of four players averaging between 13.8 and 12.0 points per game.

Texas continues to succeed defensively, ranking well inside the top 50 in points allowed per game and opponent field-goal and three-point percentage. The Longhorns look to maintain their most impressive start since the 2010-11 campaign when they ranked as high as No. 3 in the country.

Betting Pick: Texas Tech +3.5

Texas Tech will have its hands full Wednesday night on the road, but Texas could be in a letdown spot after its last-second victory over West Virginia on the weekend. Texas Tech is undervalued in a 1-7 ATS slump and has historically controled this matchup. Take the points and don’t be surprised if the Red Raiders win outright.