NCAAB Saturday February 27th Texas at Texas Tech Preview
Top 20 Teams Battle It Out as Season Winds Down
The Longhorns have rebounded a bit, winning 3 of the last 4 heading into the February 27th Texas at Texas Tech matchup. #14 Texas has run their record to 14-6 as they get set to visit 14-8 Texas Tech, who is ranked 18th.
Oddsmakers have set the Red Raiders as -3.5 favorites at home, where they are just 8-4 on the year. Texas has played just four true road games this season, going 3-1 over that span. This is the second meeting of the year between the two teams, with TTU getting a 79-77 win in Austin as +1 point underdogs.
Texas Trending Up
The Longhorns have three games left after the February 27th Texas at Texas Tech matchup, all on the road with the big one coming March 4th at #7 Oklahoma. Shaka Smart’s squad is riding high though, coming in off a 75-72 win over Kansas to complete the season sweep of the Jayhawks.
It was a very balanced effort in Tuesday’s win over Kansas with five players scoring in double figures. That’s nothing new for the Longhorns, who have four players averaging at least 10+ on the season, led by Andrew Jones pumping in 15.4 ppg. The Longhorns rank 4th in the Big12 in scoring, and have put up 75+ in 3 of the last 4 games.
The Longhorns did suffer a 2-point loss at home to Texas Tech on January 13th however. Texas was ranked #4 at that time The game was winnable by both teams, with the lead changing back and forth multiple times towards the end of the game. Jones led the Longhorns with 20 points and four Texas players pumped in 13+ in the win.
Red Raiders Try to Bounce Back
While the Longhorns come into Saturday’s tilt off a win, Texas Tech fell at Oklahoma State 74-69 in OT as -3.5 favorites. It was the third straight defeat for the Red Raiders, who have also lost to Kansas (67-61) and West Virginia (82-71).
Texas Tech does have the 2nd best defense in the Big 12, allowing just 63.4 ppg behind only Baylor. That number is 32nd best nationally, but the Longhorns did put up 77 in their first meeting this season. Oddsmakers have the betting total at 136, and the ‘over’ has hit in 9 of the last 13 TTU games.
One thing Texas Tech does is struggle on Saturday’s going 2-7 ATS their last 9. The Red Raiders have also failed to cover the number in nine straight home games. The road team has also covered in six of the last seven head to head meetings and Texas won 68-58 in their visit to Lubbock last season.
Free February 27th Texas at Texas Tech Pick
The Red Raiders almost seem like a strange favorite here, especially by -3.5. Texas Tech has lost to some good teams during their current three game skid, but Texas qualifies as a quality team as well. The Red Raiders have won six of seven in this matchup, but Texas is playing well right now. This game could come down to the last possession again.
Texas 71 – Texas Tech 68
Free Pick: Texas +3.5
