WEST VIRGINIA AT TEXAS COLLEGE BASKETBALL BETTING PREVIEW

Saturday’s premier matchup in college basketball comes in the Big 12 as No. 12 Texas (13-5, 7-4) hosts No. 13 West Virginia (14-6, 7-4). The Longhorns are -3.5, and the game total is set at 146.5. The game tips off at 3:00 p.m. E.T. on ABC from the Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center in Austin, Texas.

The Longhorns won in Morgantown, W.V. on Jan. 9 with a 72-70 win and also won the game in Texas last February by 10. Texas has won five of the last six, and West Virginia has lost three straight in Austin since a two-point win on Jan. 14, 2017

Mountaineers Clicking on Offense

West Virginia is 10-10 ATS this season, and the over is 14-6 in their 20 games. They are 8-3 away from home and ranked 60th in the nation at 77.5 points per game. The Mountaineers are 31st in rebounding at 36.2 per game and 54th in 3-point shooting at 36.9 percent.

The Mountaineers have scored at least 80 points in five of their last six games and have topped 90 twice in that span. They lost 91-90 in overtime as a favorite last Saturday at home against Oklahoma. Forward Derek Culver led all scorers with 29 points and added 14 rebounds.

Guard Miles McBride leads the way overall at 16.2 points per game, while Culver is averaging a double-double at 15.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Guard Taz Sherman (12.6) and guard Sean McNeil (11.6) are also over 10 points per game.

In the first game, the Mountaineers shot just 38.7 percent from the field and fell on a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left. Sherman led the way with 17 points, while Culver and McNeil each scored 14 points. Culver grabbed 16 boards as West Virginia won the rebounding battle 40-38.

Longhorns Looking for Consistency

Texas is just 7-11 ATS, and the over is 11-7 in their 18 games. The Longhorns are one of the best rebounding teams in the nation at 36.8 per game, which ranks 21st. They average 75.3 points per game and shoot 45 percent from the floor.

Cancer survivor Andrew Jones leads Texas overall at 15.0 points per game, while guard Courtney Ramey is averaging 13.2 points per game. Guard Matt Coleman III averages 12.7 points per game, and forward Greg Brown leads the team at 7.5 rebounds per game while scoring 11.5 points per game.

Jones hit the game-winner at West Virginia and finished with 16 points, one of five Longhorns in double figures. Ramey led the way with 19 points while Brown had a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double. Texas won the game despite making just 4-of-19 from beyond the arc and losing the rebounding battle.

Texas has won two in a row since losing two straight to start the month. They beat TCU 70-55 last Saturday as Jones scored 19 points to end a two-game home losing streak.

Betting Line and Pick

Texas -3.5. Total 146.5

Texas is 1-6 ATS in the last seven games, and they have scored over 70 points just once in the last four games. West Virginia will look to control the pace and the board while Texas relies on their defense to keep the Mountaineers from getting good looks beyond the arc. Both teams had a game postponed mid-week and haven’t played in seven days, so there could be some early rust that favors the under. B

FREE PICK: West Virginia +3.5

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