The Texas Tech Red Raiders will take on the Texas Longhorns in an exciting Big 12 battle on Tuesday night.
Texas Tech has won three of its last four games with the lone loss coming on the road in double overtime to Kansas. Meanwhile, Texas is riding a three-game winning streak and will look to continue its run away from home.
For Texas, the defense has been the deciding factor in its recent string of victories, holding all three opponents to 51 points or fewer. Will that continue against Texas Tech? Here are our best free college basketball betting picks and predictions for the Big 12 matchup between the Texas Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns.
Texas vs Texas Tech odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders opened as a 4.5-point favorite and are now currently listed as high as -5.5 at some outlets. The total has also jumped from 118.5 to 123 between two teams that have been extremely good defensively this year.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.
Texas vs Texas Tech predictions
Predictions made on 2/1/2022 at 7:45 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Texas vs Texas Tech game info
• Location: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, TX
• Date: Tuesday, February 1, 2022
• Tip-off: 9:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN2
Texas at Texas Tech betting preview
Injuries
Texas: No injuries to report.
Texas Tech: Terrence Shannon Jr. G (Questionable), Ethan Duncan G (Out).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Longhorns are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games as a road underdog. Find more NCAA betting trends for Texas vs. Texas Tech.
Texas vs Texas Tech picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
Top-tier defense may be the order of the day, as both teams are currently in the top 10 in KenPom’s defensive rating and neither unit is giving up more than 60 points per game this season.
Texas Tech is currently the better defense when it comes to ratings, holding teams to a 45.4% effective field goal percentage while forcing 24.1% turnovers on the year.
The Red Raiders have also been solid on the defensive glass and should limit offensive rebounds against a very good Texas team. Opponents are shooting 31% from deep and 44.5% from inside the arc on the year against Texas Tech.
Meanwhile, the Longhorns are shooting a 52.2% effective field goal percentage and continue to have success on the offensive glass. It’s going to be a bit harder for the Longhorns in this game on the glass. However, Texas should see the foul line at a decent rate with Texas Tech fouling at an above-average frequency this season.
The Longhorns aren’t shooting lights-out from the field, hitting just 33.5% from three and 53.3% from inside. But if the Longhorns can get to the line at a higher rate, the higher volume could offset the fact that they're hitting just 76% of their attempts from the charity stripe on the year.
On the defensive side, opponents are shooting 30.6% from deep and 45 percent from inside the arc against Texas while the Longhorns also force 25.1% turnovers.
Those turnovers are important because Texas Tech is turning the ball over 19.7% of the time. Offensive rebounds will also be there for the Red Raiders but shooting hasn’t been. Texas Tech is hitting just 32.2% of threes but also knocking down 56% from inside.
All in all, this game will be a defensive battle. Texas will likely earn more turnovers while Texas Tech will likely win the rebounding battle. In such a tight game, I like Texas with the points.
Prediction: Texas +5.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
Both defenses are seriously tremendous. Texas has looked incredible as of late but Texas Tech is averaging nearly 75 points this season.
I’ve already noted that we should see a solid amount of foul shots in this game and if Texas wants to stick around against Texas Tech, the Longhorns are going to have to score at a higher rate as well.
Therefore, I still like the over at 122.5, even though it jumped from 118.5 at opening.
Prediction: Over 122.5 (-110)
Best bet
It’s always difficult to win on the road, but the Longhorns aren’t traveling that far to take on the Red Raiders.
Texas shouldn’t be able to sustain holding opponents to about 50 points a game, but if they can hold Texas Tech to 60 points, a win against the Red Raiders is very possible.
I’ll take Texas with the points.
Pick: Texas +5.5 (-110)
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