SHARPEST EDGE SPORTS
Baylor Bears at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Baylor won the first meeting 65-61 at home
Baylor is 22-3 & 9-3 vs. Big 12
Texas Tech is 16-9 & 4-8 vs. Big 12
There are plenty of ATS numbers that favor each team that they pretty much cancel each other out. In the first meeting, in Waco, Texas Tech actually hit 7 more field goals than Baylor, as the Bears had their worst offensive showing of the season, with only 17 field goals made on 35.4% shooting and an abysmal 5-for-21 from 3-point range against a Texas Tech team who ranks 265th in the country in 3-point defense. Baylor was able to pull the game out by going 26-28 from the charity stripe. Both teams need this for different reasons. Baylor looks to keep pace with Kansas in the Big 12 ahead of their showdown Saturday. With at least eight teams in the Big 12 in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament berth this season, Texas Tech has been the hard-luck member of that group through 12 conference games. Texas Tech has lost five of its last seven, including four losses in one-possession games. Texas Tech has been right in games, they just haven’t been able to close them out. Four losses by a combined 10 points are the difference between where they are now and an 8-4 conference mark and 20 wins on the year. After their rough patch offensively, the Bears have clicked the last two games, hitting 54% at Oklahoma State and 53.6% in the win over TCU. Junior forward Johnathan Motley (16.9 points per game, 9.7 rebounds) was particularly dominant in Saturday's game, hitting 12-of-15 from the floor and scoring a game-high 25 points. Motley also had 25 in their last meeting with the Red Raiders. Texas Tech is coming off a very difficult 1-point loss at home to league-leading Kansas on Saturday which could carry over and result in a mental letdown. Baylor was anemic on offense in the first meeting but still came out with the victory. With what’s at stake for Baylor; holding onto a No. 1 seed and staying in the Big 12 title race, all have me leaning towards the Bears and their improved offense at this low number.
Baylor Bears -2.5 – 5 Units
Baylor Bears at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Baylor won the first meeting 65-61 at home
Baylor is 22-3 & 9-3 vs. Big 12
Texas Tech is 16-9 & 4-8 vs. Big 12
There are plenty of ATS numbers that favor each team that they pretty much cancel each other out. In the first meeting, in Waco, Texas Tech actually hit 7 more field goals than Baylor, as the Bears had their worst offensive showing of the season, with only 17 field goals made on 35.4% shooting and an abysmal 5-for-21 from 3-point range against a Texas Tech team who ranks 265th in the country in 3-point defense. Baylor was able to pull the game out by going 26-28 from the charity stripe. Both teams need this for different reasons. Baylor looks to keep pace with Kansas in the Big 12 ahead of their showdown Saturday. With at least eight teams in the Big 12 in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament berth this season, Texas Tech has been the hard-luck member of that group through 12 conference games. Texas Tech has lost five of its last seven, including four losses in one-possession games. Texas Tech has been right in games, they just haven’t been able to close them out. Four losses by a combined 10 points are the difference between where they are now and an 8-4 conference mark and 20 wins on the year. After their rough patch offensively, the Bears have clicked the last two games, hitting 54% at Oklahoma State and 53.6% in the win over TCU. Junior forward Johnathan Motley (16.9 points per game, 9.7 rebounds) was particularly dominant in Saturday's game, hitting 12-of-15 from the floor and scoring a game-high 25 points. Motley also had 25 in their last meeting with the Red Raiders. Texas Tech is coming off a very difficult 1-point loss at home to league-leading Kansas on Saturday which could carry over and result in a mental letdown. Baylor was anemic on offense in the first meeting but still came out with the victory. With what’s at stake for Baylor; holding onto a No. 1 seed and staying in the Big 12 title race, all have me leaning towards the Bears and their improved offense at this low number.
Baylor Bears -2.5 – 5 Units
