Texas vs Texas Tech Odds, Picks and Predictions: Red Raiders Take Final Big 12 Battle vs Texas

It’s the end of an era in Lubbock on Tuesday as the Texas Tech Red Raiders host the Texas Longhorns in the last Big 12 matchup between these longtime rivals before Texas bolts to the SEC next season.

There’s still plenty on the line in this one, as the Red Raiders seek a Top-4 seed in the Big 12 and a bye past the first two rounds of the season-ending conference tourney. They’re currently 4.5-point favorites in the college basketball odds.

Can Texas drop Texas Tech out of a three-way spot for fourth in the conference? Read below for my free Texas vs. Texas Tech preview, along with my best college basketball picks for Tuesday, February 27.

Texas vs Texas Tech best odds

Texas vs Texas Tech picks and predictions

It was a disheartening loss for the Texas Tech Red Raiders last time out as they fell 75-61 to UCF, which also sent them tumbling out of the Top-25 rankings.

A team averaging 76 points per game — right in the middle of the pack in scoring in the Big 12 — Texas Tech’s offense fired a dud against the Knights as they shot just 20-for-54 from the field, a 37% clip. A Top-3 club in the conference in 3-point shooting, the Red Raiders could only muster an 8-for-28 night from beyond the arc, a lowly 28.6% rate.

UCF recorded 11 steals, part of 14 Red Raider turnovers, which led to 17 points. Texas Tech was also battered in the paint, outscored 32-12.

Since a massive upset win over sixth-ranked Kansas, Texas Tech has dropped two of its last three, and their hopes of a conference title are basically nil.

It hasn’t been a great run for the Texas Longhorns, either, as they were crushed by the Kansas Jayhawks 86-67 in their last game. Like the Red Raiders, the Longhorns were dominated inside, as Kansas bullied them to the tune of a 52-34 scoring advantage in the paint.

The second-best 3-point shooting team in the Big 12, Texas could muster just a 9-for-26 effort beyond the arc.

Since recording back-to-back wins over ranked Baylor (ninth) and Oklahoma (11th), the Longhorns have been battered by ranked teams in their conference. Out of their last eight games, six have been against ranked foes, and they’ve won just once, against No. 25 TCU.

This will be the second and final meeting between these schools this season, with the Red Raiders winning that early January tilt 78-67.

Despite a +11 offensive rebounding advantage, the Longhorns could not make them count, as they shot only 41.3% for the game. Instead, the Red Raiders won the turnover battle, converting 14 takeaways into 23 points.

This matchup has been all Red Raiders lately, with Texas Tech winning seven of the last 10, and three straight at home. They’ve also covered five straight, and eight of 10.

They might not be ranked, but they’re still a class above the Longhorns, who’ve struggled lately against the top teams.

My best bet: Texas Tech -4.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

Texas vs Texas Tech same-game parlay

Texas Tech -4.5

Pop Isaacs Over 1.5 made 3s

Tyrese Hunter Over 10.5 points

33% boost available

+450 at DraftKings

After scoring in double-digits for 13 straight games, sophomore guard Pop Isaacs has failed to score 10 or more points in four of the last five for the Red Raiders. His latest effort was a rough 3-for-12 performance for eight points against UCF. In the last five games, Isaacs is shooting 12-for-56, just a 21.4% clip.

Perhaps the books are anticipating a major breakout, as they’ve set his scoring line at 16.5 points, even though he’s averaging just 15.9 points this season. That's a little high for my liking. Instead, I’ll take his 3-point shooting prop, a far more reachable 1.5 makes. 

Isaacs drilled 3-for-5 from distance in the last meeting between these teams en route to a game-high 21 points. He has gone Under two makes in five straight games, the longest drought of the season. I like the bounce-back ability on Tuesday.

Let’s wrap this SGP with Texas’ leading scorer in the last matchup, Tyrese Hunter. The junior guard went for 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting.

Hunter was one of the bright spots for the Longhorns against Kansas, scoring 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting last game, and just missed his total of 10.5 points by a hoop in their previous game, a 62-56 win over Kansas State.

He should be right around that figure again against the Red Raiders.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Texas vs Texas Tech spread and Over/Under analysis

This spread has stayed mostly at four points or higher, with nearly every book settling at Texas Tech -4.5.

Both teams have struggled to cover this season, with the Longhorns sporting a 9-18 record against the spread, while the Red Raiders are just 11-15-1 ATS.

The total currently has a ceiling at 145.5 points, and dips only by a point when looking for other lines.

Both schools are good Over bets, with Texas Tech going 17-10, while the Longhorns have seen the Over go 15-12 in their games.

Texas vs Texas Tech betting trend to know

Each of Texas' last seven games at United Supermarkets Arena have produced a total of 144 or fewer points. Find more college basketball betting trends for Texas vs. Texas Tech.

Texas vs Texas Tech game info

Texas vs Texas Tech key injuries

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