In their final home game of the season, the No. 21 West Virginia Mountaineers (21-8, 10-6 Big 12) host the No. 6 Texas Tech Red Raiders (22-7, 10-6 Big 12) at WVU Coliseum. The game will air on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, February 26, 2018.
West Virginia opened as a 5.5-point favorite, while the Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 142.5 points.
Texas Tech Red Raiders at West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Prediction
The Red Raiders are hoping for a better outcome after their 74-72 loss to the No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks in their last matchup. Kansas’ effective field goal percentage was their largest advantage over Texas Tech. The Jayhawks had a rate of 0.606 (above their season average of 0.576), while the Red Raiders posted a mark of 0.500. Zhaire Smith was Texas Tech’s high scorer with 20 points on 6-for-11 shooting.
The last time the Mountaineers played, they defeated the Iowa State Cyclones, 85-70. The Mountaineers, who came into the game averaging an offensive rebounding percentage of 37.0, had an extraordinary mark of 43.2 and had a free throw rate of 0.303 (above their season average of 0.239). With 18 points and 11 rebounds, West Virginia’s Esa Ahmad had a good game.
This matchup pits one of the NCAA’s top offenses against one of its elite defenses. West Virginia ranks 35th in offensive efficiency and Texas Tech ranks fifth in defensive efficiency. Also, the Red Raiders rank 48th in free throw attempt (FTA) rate (0.281), while the Mountaineers rank 343rd in opponents’ FTA rate (0.321).
Texas Tech holds records of 22-7 straight up (SU) and 13-12 against the spread (ATS). Red Raiders games have a tendency to finish under the projected point total (56.0 percent).
Meanwhile, West Virginia is 21-8 SU and 12-13 ATS. Games including the Mountaineers also have a tendency to finish under the projected point total (56.0 percent).
Smith has averaged 15.6 points over the last five games for Texas Tech.
This will be the second game of the season between these two teams. In the first, the Mountaineers lost 72-71 but covered as 4.5-point underdogs. Jevon Carter led both teams with 28 points. The game finished with a total of 143 points, which was just 1 points below the projected point total of 144 points. Texas Tech was effective at getting to and converting from the charity stripe. The Red Raiders made 24 of their 28 free throws (85.7 percent), while the Mountaineers were 14-19 (73.7 percent).
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. West Virginia Mountaineers ATS Pick
Free College Basketball Pick: SU Winner – West Virginia, ATS Winner – Texas Tech, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes:
On the road, Texas Tech is 6-6 ATS with 7 unders and 5 overs.
West Virginia is 6-6 ATS at home with 7 unders and 5 overs.
West Virginia ranks 50th in three pointers attempted per game (25.3) while Texas Tech ranks 224th (19.5).
The Red Raiders rank 49th in blocks per game (4.2) while the Mountaineers rank 155th in blocks allowed per game (3.9).
Texas Tech ranks 33rd in rebounds allowed per game (31.6) while West Virginia ranks 133rd (34.4).
The Mountaineers average 8.1 steals per game, which ranks 16th in the NCAA. The Red Raiders rank 89th in steals allowed per game (5.9).
Texas Tech ranks 13th in assists allowed per game (10.2) while West Virginia ranks 64th (12.0).
Bettings Trends:
In their last five games, Texas Tech is 2-3 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders.
West Virginia is 2-3 ATS with 3 unders and 2 overs over their last five games.
The Red Raiders’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 3.4, down from 12.2 for the season.
During their last five games, the Mountaineers have scored an average of 78.4 points per game (1.9 below their season average) and allowed an average of 72.2 points per game (4.1 above their season average).
