Texas Tech Vs. Texas Odds, Picks, and Predictions (02/19/22)

Texas Tech Vs. Texas Odds, Picks, and Predictions (02/19/22)

After big wins earlier this week, the #11 Texas Tech Red Raiders are on their way to Austin, Texas, to take on the #20 Longhorns this Saturday, February 19th. Tip-off is set for 11:30 AM CST for this impressive showdown. The Raiders are coming off a massive win after taking down the #7 Baylor Bears, and the Longhorns barely escaped with an 80-78 overtime win against the Oklahoma Sooners. Both teams have dominated their competition and the Big 12, so this game will show the equal matchup of weaponized teams. The Longhorns home-court advantage should be a big play in this meeting since the last time they met the Raiders walked away with a win in Lubbock. Make sure to tune in this Saturday on ABC.

Texas Tech vs. Texas Betting Odds

Both teams play basketball on such a prestigious level that makes this matchup so exciting. The heightened offensive play of the Raiders and the Longhorns leaves their meetings with high point values and exhilarating final moments. Even though Texas Tech walked away with a win from Texas earlier this season, the odds are looking in favor of Texas this time around. ESPN’s matchup predictor is reporting a Longhorn victory with 61.4% confidence. The spread is also leaning in favor of Texas, with a -1.5 spread, leaving Texas Tech with +1.5. Their last meeting resulted in a 13 point win for Texas Tech, so these spreads are showing a change of tide. However, you have to account for Tech’s impeccable record when at home. They have remained undefeated in their home stadium but have had some rocky games when on the road. This gives Texas the advantage they need in order to stump the on-fire Raiders and redeem their last loss.

Texas Tech has the best record against the spread in the Big 12. They are currently 18-8 ATS, giving them a 69.8% cover rate. Texas has failed to cover the majority of their games, going 12-14 ATS, leaving them with a 42.6% cover rate. This matchup will differ significantly from their last meeting due to both teams’ electrifying play in their previous games. Players have been pumping up their accuracy, making this game a battle of precision. Overall, I think the near loss to Oklahoma will motivate Texas to focus their shots and lead to a great game. 

My Prediction: Texas Wins 72-70, Texas Covers

Texas Tech Red Raiders Odds

The Texas Tech Red Raiders took home their biggest win of the season on Wednesday of this week. They took down the reigning NCAA Men’s Basketball Champions for the second time with an 83-73 victory. This win proved once again that the fans’ energy is indestructible in Lubbock, Texas. This weekend, they have another very close matchup with the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns stand one place behind in the Big 12, so they’re extra hungry for this win. Texas Tech was able to guard under the basket extremely well when they last played Texas, ultimately leading to their win. The perimeter was shut down as well, and the Raiders kept the Longhorns to 26.1% from the three-point line. On average, Texas shoots 50.9% from the field, but Tech was able to keep them to 40%. This matchup will rely on both teams’ ability to defend properly, and Tech’s previous experience in this game will lead this to a close match.

Tech’s senior forward, Kevin Obanor, has been electric against top competitors. In the Raiders’ last game against the Baylor Bears, Obanor scored 23 points and shot 61.5% from the field. Against the Longhorns, Obanor was able to sink 17 points for his team, which is seven points above his average. He went 62.5% from the field and 71.4% from beyond the three-point line. Texas will need to focus on shutting Obanor down and slowing the gameplay of the Raiders to walk away victorious. Still, Obanor won’t stop unless he is met with incredible force. He’s going to be a huge player in this game and will be expected to put up significant points for his Raiders’ offense.

Terrenece Shannon Jr. will also be a key offensive lead in this matchup. He is the second leading point scorer for the Raiders, averaging 11.7 points per game. However, he’s been heating up over the past few weeks. Against Baylor, Shannon Jr put up 14 points and scored 20 against TCU. He was pretty quiet against Texas, only scoring two points, but he contributed to the team’s success with his leadership ability. I predict he will be all over Texas on defense, forcing turnovers and changing the course of the game.

Texas Longhorns Odds

The Texas Longhorns have a huge advantage having this game at home. They previously lost to Texas Tech when on the road, but their home-court record is almost as good as the Raiders. They’ve only taken one loss in Austin to the Kansas State Wildcats in a disappointing one-point loss. When at home, they’ve taken down big rivals such as the #1 team in the Big 12, the Kansas Jayhawks, and the #18 Tennessee Volunteers. After taking a crushing 80-63 loss to Baylor, the Longhorns redeemed themselves after scraping by with an overtime win against their Red River rivals – the Oklahoma Sooners. The game almost slipped away from them in the end, but huge efforts from the top scorer, Timmy Allen, kept the team alive. This matchup against the Red Raiders is a redeeming matchup to attempt to take the #2 spot in the Big 12 and move up nationally in rank. The Longhorns need to improve their shooting accuracy and not allow for defensive pressure to get the best of them. When under the basket, the team needs to finish the shot or draw the foul to pick up lost points. Shooting 40% is not going to beat Texas Tech, so some in-house maintenance is crucial to secure this win.

Senior forward Timmy Allen has been the heart of this Texas offense all season. He lacks some consistency in his play, but when he’s on – he’s on fire! In their last game against Oklahoma, Allen kept the team alive with 20 points and two steals in crucial moments. Allen performs best under pressure and has his best games against fierce opponents. Against Kansas, he was able to put up an astonishing 24 points. However, he was pretty muted in their last meeting with the Raiders. Going 33% from the field, only putting up five points, left the team in a deficit that cost them the game. Allen was shut down under the basket and was given no room for point-scoring opportunities. In this matchup, the team needs Allen to step up and dominate the paint to pull out this crucial win.

Texas Tech vs. Texas Picks and Predictions

The meeting between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns will be one of the most marginal games we see this weekend. Both teams are loaded offensively and have come up with great defensive stops. The home-court advantage for Texas will be crucial and could leave the Raiders on shaky ground. Point values should be very high for this game, so an over bet should hit relatively easily. If Timmy Allen can perform at his average level, this game should easily fall in favor of the Longhorns and push them in an even better position for the March Madness Tournament.