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College Basketball

Saturday’s Big 12 Tips

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read


The final Saturday of the college basketball regular season features a trio of key matchups in the Big 12 heading into next week’s conference tournament including a showdown featuring the regular-season champion.

No. 20 West Virginia at Texas (ESPN, 12:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: West Virginia -3 ½, Total 139

Betting Matchup

West Virginia comes into its Big 12 regular season finale with a straight-up three-game winning streak after beating Texas Tech 84-74 on Monday to cover as a seven-point home favorite. It is now 11-6 SU in conference play with a 10-7 record against the spread. The total has stayed UNDER in five of its last seven Big 12 road games. Senior guard Jevon Carter added his name to the record books with 24 points and two assists to become the first player from a major conference with 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 300 steals in their college career.

Texas is 7-10 SU in Big 12 play and a win on Saturday could have a big impact on its seeding for next week’s conference tournament. The Longhorns have not helped their cause with just two victories in their last seven games both SU and ATS. They got hammered by West Virginia 86-51 on Jan. 20 as 9 ½-point road underdogs with the total going OVER the 136 ½-point line. Texas is averaging 71.4 points per game behind a trio of players scoring at least 12 points. Junior forward Dylan Osetkowski has led the team in both points (13.7) and rebounds (7.1).

Betting Trends

-- The Mountaineers are 1-4 ATS in their last five Saturday games and the total has stayed UNDER in five of their last seven games on the road.

-- The Longhorns have gone 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a SU loss and the total has gone OVER in four of their last five home games against a team with a SU winning road record.

-- The home team in this matchup has covered in seven of the last 10 meetings and the total has gone OVER in three of the last five meetings.

No. 6 Kansas at Oklahoma State (ESPN, 4:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Kansas -5, Total 154

Betting Matchup

Kansas extended its current SU winning streak to five games with Monday’s 80-70 victory against Texas, but it could not cover as a 12-point home favorite. This was the first time it failed to cover in its last four games and the total has gone OVER in four of its last five contests. The Jayhawks already locked up another Big 12 regular season title at 13-4 SU in conference play as part of their 24-6 record on the year. A big part of their success this season can be attributed to the play of senior guard Devonte’ Graham with a team-high 17.7 points and 7.2 assists a game.

The Cowboys are another 7-10 team in the Big 12 looking to close out their season with big win. They have gone an even 3-3 SU in their last six games while covering the spread in four of those contests including a recent 79-71 upset against Texas Tech as four-point home underdogs. Oklahoma State is averaging 76.7 PPG, but it has given up almost the same amount of points at the other end of the court with a points-allowed average of 73.5

Betting Trends

-- The Jayhawks have gone 10-4 ATS in their last 14 road games and the total has stayed UNDER in five of their last seven games coming off a ATS loss.

-- The Cowboys are 5-1 ATS in their last six Saturday games and the total has stayed UNDER in 12 of their last 16 games at home.

-- Oklahoma State stunned Kansas 84-79 on Feb. 3 as a 12-point road underdog with the total going OVER 151 ½-points. The Cowboys have 4-2 edge ATS in the last six meetings.

TCU at No. 12 Texas Tech (ESPN2, 4:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Texas Tech -6 ½, Total 147

Betting Matchup

TCU has won its last four games both SU and ATS with Tuesday’s 66-59 victory against Kansas State as a 6 ½-point home favorite. With a 5-1 record (SU and ATS) in their last six games, the Horned Frogs are 9-8 in conference play. They have gone 2-5 SU in their last seven conference games on the road with a 4-3 record ATS. In Tuesday’s win, senior guard Kenrich Williams posted 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way. This was the first time in four games that TCU failed to score at least 82 points.

The Red Raiders early success in the Big 12 has faded to 10-7 SU and 7-10 ATS after losing their last four games both SU and ATS. They were on the wrong end of Monday’s loss to West Virginia after losing to Kansas 74-72 last Saturday as 2 ½-point home favorites. Texas Tech has averaged 75.6 PPG this season behind Keenan Evans (17.2 points), but he missed Monday’s game with a toe injury. He remains questionable for Saturday. The Red Raiders are holding opposing teams to 64.2 PPG.

Betting Trends

-- The Horned Frogs are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a SU win and the total has gone OVER in 11 of their last 12 games played on Saturday.

-- The Red Raiders have failed to cover in their last six games coming off a SU loss and the total has gone OVER in four of their last five home games.

-- Head-to-head in this in-state rivalry, the road team is 13-3 ATS in the last 16 meetings. Texas Tech won the first meeting this season 83-71 on Feb. 3 to cover as a 3 ½-point road underdog.

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