Texas Tech vs Texas Odds, Pick
| Texas Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total Points | Moneyline |
+6.5 -105 | 141.5 -110o / -110u | +240 |
| Texas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total Points | Moneyline |
-6.5 -115 | 141.5 -110o / -110u | -300 |
One of the most heated rivalries in college basketball is Texas-Texas Tech. Sure, it lost some of its luster with Chris Beard no longer involved, but it's the final season before Texas moves to the SEC. We need to enjoy these games while we can!
Here's Texas Tech vs Texas odds and a pick for Saturday.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Seeing a Grant McCasland-coached team posting similar numbers in Offensive and Defensive Efficiency is strange. McCasland's identity shifted at Texas Tech, playing faster (not saying much since UNT played so slow) and focusing more on scoring.
Most people thought Texas Tech instantly could develop into a top-tier defensive team in America. While it's yet to happen, the roster makeup is part of the reason for Tech's focus on offense more than defense.
I'll explain more below, however, the defensive upside still exists — Joe Toussaint is a dominant point-of-attack stopper and Warren Washington alters shots at the rim.
Texas Tech's offense looks better since inserting Kerwin Walton into the lineup for the injured Devan Cambridge. Walton, a former North Carolina product, is shooting 50% from deep on only 37 attempts.
The Red Raiders rely heavily on perimeter shooting (attempting triples on 42% of field goals), and Walton is a big piece of the shooting improvements.
Sophomore guard Pop Isaacs is arguably the Big 12's streakiest shooter. A season ago, Isaacs shot 37% from deep as a freshman, and he shoots only 28% now. He's an invaluable option for Texas Tech's offensive upside moving forward.
When Isaacs is right, things are great. When things aren't going well, Texas Tech's offense will sputter.
Texas Longhorns
Texas (No. 20) is the most controversial team in the AP Poll. It's 11-2 and came into the year ranked, but it hasn't beaten a single top-100 opponent. The Longhorns' best victory in terms of KenPom rating is against No. 106 LSU. Coach Rodney Terry scheduled light, and so far, it's worked to the benefit of Texas.
Texas relies on a trio of guards — Max Abmas, Tyrese Hunter and Ithiel Horton — to shoulder the scoring load.
Abmas is quietly enjoying an All-Big-12 level year, averaging 17.8 points on 45% shooting and 37% from deep. Some mid-major-to-high-major guard transfers can't replicate their success at their new level, but Abmas is an exception to the rule.
I love the Longhorns' defense upside, although they only rank 43rd in Defensive Efficiency. The frontcourt duo of athletic four-man Dillon Mitchell and shot-swatter Kadin Shedrick can slow down interior scoring. Mitchell leads Texas in rebounding and blocked shots per game.
Additionally, the biggest parallel to draw in Texas' two losses (against UConn and Marquette) is a lack of perimeter shooting. The Horns drained only nine outside shots combined in both losses, so that'll have to change against the Red Raiders.
That's why Horton is valuable for Texas as a legit perimeter marksman next to Abmas.
Texas Tech vs. Texas
Betting Pick & Prediction
Both Texas Tech and Texas face similar criticisms: neither has beaten anybody of note. At least Texas Tech beat one top-100 team in Michigan, which is now not very good at basketball.
It feels strange that neither has beaten an NCAA tournament-level team during the non-conference slate, so this game is telling. Which team is actually good? Are both good? Are neither good? There are so many questions and so little answers so far.
I have to give out the under here. Eventually the defensive ethos will seep into both teams, and it may start against each other. Both teams play slow — Texas sits at 231st in Adjusted Tempo and Texas Tech is 250th. Also, Tech won't score much if the 3s don't fall.
Pick: Under 144.5 (Play to 143)
The new ESPN Sportsbook is now online and you can use Action’s ESPN BET promo code TANBONUS for a new user welcome.
