Sign In $
College Basketball

Tuesday’s Tip Sheet

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
TCU at Baylor (-1 ½, 149) – 7:00 PM EST – ESPNNEWS

Both these Texas squads suffered losses in their Big 12 openers over the weekend as they each seek their first conference win. The Horned Frogs (12-1 SU, 6-6 ATS) entered Saturday’s action as only one of three undefeated teams remaining in the country, but they lost in the final seconds to Oklahoma, 90-89 as 2 ½-point home favorites. Jamie Dixon’s squad has yet to play a true road game this season, as the Frogs compiled a 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS record against conference foes away from Ft. Worth last season.

The Bears (10-3 SU, 3-3 ATS) suffered a 24-point setback at Texas Tech on Friday, 77-53 as 7 ½-point underdogs to snap a five-game winning streak. Baylor fell behind, 40-19 at halftime and never recovered as Scott Drew’s club shot 37% from the floor, including 3-of-12 from three-point range. The Bears own a solid 8-1 home record, although Baylor cleaned up on subpar competition with their only loss coming to a terrific Wichita State team.

Since 2013, Baylor has won 10 consecutive meetings with TCU, including a season sweep last season. The Horned Frogs struggled to score against the Bears by getting held to 53 and 52 points in the two defeats, as TCU has compiled a dreadful 1-9 ATS record in this stretch.

Butler at Xavier (-7, 154) – 7:00 PM EST – FS1

The Bulldogs (12-3 SU, 8-6 ATS) overcame a 20-point deficit to stun Georgetown in overtime of their Big East opener last week, but didn’t dig themselves a hole against top-ranked Villanova on Saturday.

Butler built a 23-point advantage before holding off Villanova, 101-93 to cash outright as 5 ½-point home underdogs. The Bulldogs shot lights out from three-point range (15-of-22), led by Kelan Martin’s 24 points and Paul Jorgensen’s 23 points. Butler has cashed the OVER in seven consecutive games, while topping the 90-point mark in four of the past six contests.

Xavier (14-1 SU, 11-4 ATS) edged DePaul on Saturday, 77-72 as 14-point favorites to improve to 2-0 in Big East play. The Musketeers erased an eight-point halftime lead and beat the Blue Demons in spite of shooting 42% from the field. Chris Mack’s club has yet to lose at the Cintas Center this season, going 10-0, including victories over Cincinnati and Baylor.

Last season, the road team won each meeting as Butler knocked off Xavier in Cincinnati, 88-79 as 2 ½-point away favorites in February. Butler has won six of its past seven road conference games since last January, while Xavier has struggled against the number recently in Big East play by going 4-13 ATS in the past 17 conference tilts.

Texas Tech at Kansas (-7, 149) – 9:00 PM EST – ESPN

The Red Raiders (12-1 SU, 6-3 ATS) are a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12 this season following a fast start. Texas Tech crushed Baylor in Lubbock on Friday, 77-53 as 7 ½-point favorites, as Keenan Evans led the Raiders with 18 points. Tech outrebounded Baylor, 36-17, while connecting on 50% of their shots from the floor. The key to reaching elite status in the Big 12 is winning on the road, as the Red Raiders posted a miserable 0-9 SU and 3-6 ATS mark away from Lubbock in conference play last season.

The Jayhawks (11-2 SU, 8-4 ATS) knocked off Texas in the Big 12 opener, 92-86 as four-point road favorites, as Devonte’ Graham paced KU with 23 points, including hitting six three-pointers. Amazingly, Kansas won its conference opener for the 27th straight season, while looking to extend its streak to 14 consecutive regular season Big 12 titles this season.

Bill Self’s squad has won 16 straight matchups with Texas Tech since getting surprised in Lubbock, 84-69 in March 2009. The Jayhawks captured eight of nine home conference games last season, but put together a 2-7 ATS mark as one of those two covers came against Texas Tech in a 17-point blowout.

Florida at Texas A&M (-2 ½, 143 ½) – 9:00 PM EST – ESPN2

The Gators (9-4 SU, 5-7 ATS) suffered several hiccups in non-conference play in December by losing consecutive home games to Florida State and Loyola-Illinois. Florida is currently on a three-game winning streak, capped off by a victory in its SEC opener over Vanderbilt on Saturday, 81-74, but the Gators failed to cash as 9 ½-point favorites. Mike White’s club jumped out to a 20-point halftime edge before the Commodores rallied for the cover.

The Aggies (11-2 SU, 5-5 ATS) were crushed in their conference opener on Saturday at Alabama, 79-57 to end a four-game winning streak. Texas A&M continues to play without star forward D.J. Hogg (14.6 ppg), who is serving a three-game suspension for a violation of team rules and will be out again tonight. The Aggies have won all seven home contests this season, although there weren’t any standout victories.

Florida knocked off Texas A&M in their lone matchup last season in Gainesville, 71-62 as 11 ½-point favorites, as the Gators seek their first win in College Station since 2013. The Aggies struggled at home against SEC foes last season by going 2-7 ATS, while the Gators put together an impressive 6-3 SU and 5-4 ATS mark away from Gainesville in SEC play.

You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com

Kevin Rogers can be followed on Twitter at virogers.

College Basketball News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•