Thursday night brings some great matchups and exciting college basketball betting action, but the headliner is undoubtedly set at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, where the No. 14 Texas Tech Red Raiders welcome the No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks.
These two schools will start their Big 12 Conference play, entering Thursday’s clash with a 6-1 overall record each. The Jayhawks already defeated the Red Raiders twice in 2020, as we saw a couple of tight and dramatic contests, so I expect more of the same in this one, bringing you the best betting picks and tips.
The Jayhawks are riding a six-game win streak
After a 102-90 defeat to the No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs in the opener, the Kansas Jayhawks have recorded six straight wins including a couple of triumphs over the No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats 65-62 and No. 8 Creighton Bluejays 73-72.
They are coming off a comfortable 95-50 home win over the Omaha Mavericks, as the Jayhawks easily covered a massive 25-point spread. It was their first ATS victory after three straight losses, while the Jayhawks are No. 5 in the AP Top 25 Poll and No. 9 in the latest KenPom rankings.
Kansas once more leans on its stout defense. The Jayhawks allow only 87.2 points per 100 possessions (6th in the nation) while scoring 109.7 in a return (25th). Four players average points in double figures and sophomore forward Jalen Wilson leads the way with 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
The Red Raiders eye their fifth straight victory
The Texas Tech Red Raiders suffered their lone loss on November 29. They were beaten by No. 17 Houston Cougars 64-53 at the neutral site, failing to cover a 3-point spread. Since then, the Red Raiders have earned four consecutive wins, though their strength of schedule was quite friendly.
Texas Tech is coming off a 77-57 win over the Texas A&M-CC Islanders, failing to cover a 27.5-point spread at the neutral site. The Raiders are 4-3 ATS on the season, sitting at the 14th spot of the AP Top 25 Poll, while they are No. 8 in the latest KenPom rankings.
The Red Raiders have the best defensive rating in the country. They are surrendering only 85.2 points per 100 possessions. On the other side, the Raiders are scoring 107.9 points per 100 possessions (51st). Junior guard Mac McClung tops the Raiders’ scoring chart with 14.1 points per game, while his junior colleague Kyler Edwards adds 11.3 points, 5.0 boards, and 3.4 dimes a night.
[metabet_core_odds_compare query=”ncaab/texas_tech” size=”300×250″ site_id=”atsio” css=”float:right; margin-left:10px”]Trends:
Kansas:
- 13-7 ATS in the last 20 games against Texas Tech
Texas Tech:
- 1-4 ATS in the last five home games as favorites of three or fewer points
The Winner Prediction
The previous two encounters between the Jayhawks and Red Raiders were decided by three and four points, and I expect to see another dramatic contest. The Red Raiders opened as slight 1.5-point favorites on BetAmerica, but they are only 2-18 straight up and 7-13 ATS in the last 20 matchups with Kansas.
I like the Jayhawks’ spot, as they’ve played three ranked teams thus far, while the Red Raiders have met some mediocre teams besides Houston. Also, the Jayhawks certainly possess more offensive talent than the Raiders, and that should be a key factor when two top-notch defensive teams take on each other.
Pick: Take Kansas Jayhawks +3.0 at -138
The Total:
Considering how good these two teams are on the defensive end, we should see a low-scoring affair. However, the over has hit in seven of the last eight meetings between Kansas and Texas Tech including three of the previous four when the line has been set within 132 and 135.5 points.
This is a tough wager, as Kansas will look to speed up things, while Red Raiders will try to slow them down as much as they can. I’m backing the under as a logical move. Both schools lean on tough defense, and the hosts know they have to force Kansas into half-court basketball if they want to win.
Pick: Go under 132.5 points at -110