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Four teams have three losses in the Big 12 coming into Tuesday’s slate of games. Texas Tech and Baylor are two of the four, and the winner of the matchup tonight will have at least a share of first place in the conference.
Baylor has home-court advantage while riding a two-game winning streak. The Bears are 12-7-1 against the spread this season, but they have only covered in two of their last five. The Bears’ offense has been playing well, hitting the OVER in three of their last four for total points.
Texas Tech comes into this one having lost their last two games. On the season, they are 10-11 against the spread but have not been good in conference play, only covering twice in their last six contests. Their offense has been potent, though, hitting the OVER in their last five.
This will be the first of two matchups for the in-state rivals, as the two teams will play their respective season finales at Texas Tech later this year. Here is the Texas Tech vs. Baylor betting news, team props and a betting prediction for tonight’s Big 12 Conference matchup. The game tips off at 9 p.m. on ESPN.
Live odds for Texas Tech vs. Baylor
Here are the spread, moneyline and total points live odds for Texas Tech vs. Baylor at the best online sportsbooks.
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Texas Tech Red Raiders betting news
The Red Raiders are one of the best offenses in college basketball, ranking 13th for adjusted efficiency on Kenpom. Texas Tech has a few problems on defense, where they rank just 86th for adjusted efficiency. They have lost a few close contests recently, as they have been unable to get stops in crunch time.
If they can improve even a little on defense, it could be enough for them to compete with and beat almost anyone. The Red Raiders have some excellent offensive players, led by Pop Isaacs. The sophomore guard leads the team in scoring with 17.6 PPG and is second in assists at 3.5 APG. But he has not been efficient, shooting 37.4% from the field and 33.3% from three.
In Texas Tech’s last game, a loss to Cincinnati, Isaacs scored 22 points but was a dreadful 5-of-19 from the field. As good as the Red Raiders offense is, it could get even better if they utilized some of their more efficient players more often. Chance McMillan (10.2 PPG), the team’s fourth-leading scorer, shoots 48.4% from the field and is lethal from three, shooting 43.6%.
Another guard who has had more limited opportunities but has been scoring efficiently is Kerwin Walton (8.1 PPG). The senior guard is shooting 55.9% from the field and an insane 52.2% from three. McMillan and Walton have a combined 10 games this season with at least 16 points. Texas Tech is 8-2 in those contests, and the Red Raiders would be wise to take away a few of Isaacs’ touches and distribute them to players like McMillan and Walton.
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Baylor Bears betting news
The Bears climbed into the top 10 of most polls this season but have gone through a few rough patches; now unranked, they are working on getting their season back on track. Baylor lost three games in a row by four or fewer points before winning their last two games. Two defeats also came in overtime, proving that Baylor is a good team but has lost some tight games.
Similar to Texas Tech, the Bears have a fantastic offense, but their defense has not measured up nearly as well. Baylor’s offense ranks fourth on Kenpom for adjusted efficiency, but their defense comes in far behind, ranking 74th for adjusted efficiency. Give credit to Baylor, though, as they have played a gauntlet with the 19th-ranked strength of schedule.
While Baylor could improve on defense, the Bears need to find a way to win more of their tight contests. With five players averaging double figures, they have plenty of options to score late in close games. In some ways, it may be too many options, and it would be good for Baylor if one of those five could separate themselves enough to be the clear choice to be a go-to option late in games.
Texas Tech vs. Baylor team props at FanDuel Sportsbook
Here are some of the top team prop markets for Texas Tech vs. Baylor from FanDuel Sportsbook.
Jalen Bridges prop bets
- 10.5 points OVER (-130) / UNDER (+100)
- 5.5 rebounds OVER (+110) / UNDER (-146)
Joe Tourrsaint prop bets
- 11.5 points OVER (+102) / UNDER (-132)
- 4.5 assists OVER (+126) / UNDER (-168)
Ja’Kobe Walter prop bets
- 13.5 points OVER (-118) / UNDER (-110)
- 4.5 rebounds OVER (-144) / UNDER (+108)
Pop Isaacs prop bets
- 18.5 points OVER (-102) / UNDER (-128)
Warren Washington prop bets
- 10.5 points OVER (-125) / UNDER (-104)
- 6.5 rebounds OVER (-128) / UNDER (-104)
Rayj Dennis prop bets
- 13.5 points OVER (-130) / UNDER (+100)
- 6.5 assists OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
Texas Tech vs. Baylor prediction: Expect lots of scoring
The matchup is tough to predict, but both teams have hit the OVER for total points in almost every one of their last five games. Baylor and Texas Tech have top-15 offenses and defenses outside the top 50 on Kenpom.
Pick: Over
