No. 11 Texas Tech shocked college basketball in January, knocking the aura off defending national champion No. 7 Baylor with an upset win in Waco. The Red Raiders’ victory stopped a 15-game winning streak for the Bears to start the season and threw the Big 12 race into chaos. Can the rematch be as good as the original?
The Red Raiders (19-6, 8-4) are 15-0 at home this season and will look to complete a sweep and tie Baylor (21-4, 9-3) for second place in the conference. The Bears have won two straight and are 6-2 on the road this season.
Texas Tech is a 1.5-point favorite, while the over/under is set at 136 points.
Texas Tech Betting Preview
Beating Texas Tech requires finding a way to score against a smothering defense. The Red Raiders limit their opponents to shoot 38.4 percent from the field, which ranks 13th nationally.
Texas Tech also limits its foes to 60.9 points per game, which ranks 17th nationally. The Red Raiders have struggled to win close games, as they have a 1-2 record in Big 12 play when games are decided by five points or less.
The Red Raiders don’t move at the fastest pace on offense but are efficient. Texas Tech ranks 47th nationally in field goal percentage, making 47.1 percent of its shots from the floor.
Bryson Williams leads the Red Raiders in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game. Texas Tech is 0-2 in conference play when its opponents score more than 70 points.
Baylor Betting Preview
Baylor has played well on the road against Texas Tech since 2010, winning eight of its previous 12 meetings games there. The Bears have been at their best this season when they get the ball inside. When Baylor outscores its opponents in the paint, the Bears are 17-0.
On defense, the Bears clamp down on their opponents, limiting teams to 62.2 points per game. Baylor has won its previous two games by double digits.
LJ Cryer leads the Bears in scoring, averaging 13.9 points per game. Baylor’s offense produces 77.9 points per game, which ranks 39th nationally. The Bears, who shoot 47.3 percent from the field, have been able to score at that clip thanks to its shooting which ranks in the top 40 nationally.
Betting Prediction
Texas Tech wants to keep up in the Big 12 standings, as it is two games behind first-place Kansas and just a game behind Baylor. The Red Raiders want to keep collecting victories to improve their positioning in the conference tournament. Baylor wants to get its win back and is equipped to deal with Texas Tech’s suffering defense.
The Bears are the only team in the country that rank in the top 50 nationally in both scoring offense and defense. However, the Red Raiders have been nearly perfect at home this season. Expect Texas Tech to cover the narrow spread with another win at home.
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