Two ranked Texas rivals meet in the Big 12 quarterfinals on Thursday as the No. 20 Texas Tech Red Raiders face the No. 13 Texas Longhorns. The teams were about to play in the Big 12 quarterfinals last year when the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
Thursday’s game will tip off at 9:30 pm ET at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri and will be televised on ESPN2.
Texas Tech won at home 68-59 against the Longhorns on Feb. 27 and won in Austin 79-77 on Jan 13. Texas is 4-2 against the Red Raiders in the Big 12 Tournament, and the winner of this game is in prime position to come out of the bottom part of the bracket.
Red Raiders Looking For Sweep
The Red Raiders (17-9, 9-8) are 10-16 ATS this season, and the under is 14-12 in their 26 games. They were 11-4 at home on the campaign and 1-1 in neutral-site games. They lost to Baylor in the final game of the regular season last weekend to end a three-game winning streak.
They are led in scoring by guard Mac McClung at 16.1 points per game, while guards Kyler Edwards (10.2) and Kevin McCullar (10.1) are also averaging in double figures. Forward Marcus Santos-Silva leads the Red Raiders at 6.3 rebounds per game while also scoring 8.5 points per game.
McClung was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Georgetown. He averaged 19.0 points per game against Texas this season but shot just 10-for-27 in those two games.
Santos-Silva had 22 points and 13 rebounds in the two games, including nine rebounds in the home win last month.
Longhorns Picking Up the Pace
Texas has won its last three games away from home and is 10-13-1 ATS this season. The over is 15-9 in the Longhorns’ 24 games, and they are 3-0 in neutral-site games. The Texas defense ranks 49th in field-goal percentage allowed, and it is +5.4 rebounds per game.
Guard Andrew Jones leads the team at 14.9 points per game, while guard Courtney Ramey is averaging 13.6 points per game. Guard Matt Coleman (12.4) and forward Greg Brown (10.3) are also in double figures in scoring.
Brown and forward Jericho Sims both average 6.6 rebounds per game, while Coleman and Ramey are at 4.1 assists per game.
Texas has scored 75 points or more in three of its last four wins, and it is averaging 74.9 points per game this season.
Betting Analysis and Pick
Texas Tech has historically struggled at the Big 12 Tournament with a 5-7 record in the quarterfinal round. Getting to play the final game of Thursday should settle the Red Raiders’ nerves, and they have played well against the Longhorns all season.
McClung is the key as Texas has forced him into bad shot selection in the first two games but still lost both times.
Pick: Texas Tech to win and cover
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