West Virginia vs. Texas Tech Predictions, Odds

Feb. 9, 2021

Thom Cunningham
NCAA BK Expert
VegasInsider.com

The West Virginia Mountaineers travel to Lubbock, Texas to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders for a huge Big 12 battle. Tip is set for 9 p.m. (ET) and will air on ESPN.

BETTING RESOURCES

• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Conference: Big 12
• Venue: United Supermarkets Arena
• Location: Lubbock, Texas
• Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2021
• Time: 9:00 p.m.
• TV: ESPN
• Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | bet365 |DraftKings | Best Sportsbooks

WHERE TO BET WEST VIRGINIA-TEXAS TECH

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West Virginia-Texas Tech Betting Odds

Line Movements

• Spread: Texas Tech -4.5
• Money-Line: Texas Tech -240 West Virginia +200
• Total: 140.5

Odds Subject to Change

Texas Tech is the home favorite, given a -4.5-point spread after opening at -6. The Red Raiders have only covered 12 of 19 games played this season, while West Virginia is split at 9-9 on the year.

The point total is set at 140.5, which West Virginia leans OVER on. The Mountaineers have gone OVER the point total in 12 of 18 games this season, while Texas Tech is 9-10 on the O/U.

Betting Analysis – West Virginia Mountaineers

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 13-5
• ATS: 9-9
• SU - Home: 9-2
• SU - Away: 4-3
• O/U: 12-6

West Virginia won a key home game against Kansas during its last game. Both Miles McBride and Derek Culver played phenomal, showcasing how dangerous this team is when they are both playing at a high level on the same night.

Taz Sherman also played very well, but now West Virginia enters a road game against a team with revenge on its mind. West Virginia is noticeably worse on the road, so it will take a copy-and-paste performance from the Mountaineers' stars to stand a chance in Lubbock.

McBride saw a career-high 29 points against Kansas, while also out-dueling Mac McClung when West Virginia last saw Texas Tech. McBride hit the game-winning shot, to go along with 24 points, his second-highest point total of the year. Make no mistake, McBride will have to replicate that performance for West Virginia to win.

Sherman is becoming a quietly dangerous player for Bob Huggins, a senior who has seen his point total climb to over 13 points per game. He saw 25 points against Kansas and has scored 10 or more points in eight straight games. In five of those eight games, Sherman has scored at least 17 points.

Betting Analysis – Texas Tech Red Raiders

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 14-5
• ATS: 7-12
• SU - Home: 6-4
• SU - Away: 5-1
• O/U: 9-10

Look for Mac McClung to try and will his team to the finish line this time, performing very well but coming up short in Morgantown earlier. He and McBride put on a show, as McClung saw 30 total points. He has scored 22 points or more in five of his last six games, now seeing his point total average climb to over 17 a game.

The Texas Tech defense should be better overall since last facing West Virginia. They gave up nearly 90 in Morgantown, as the team averages just 61.7 points per game which ranks 14th nationally. This game marks just the third home game for Texas Tech over its last eight games.

Over the last two home games, Texas Tech failed to allow 70 points to either Baylor or Oklahoma - two top 10 teams in the AP rankings currently. Expect the Red Raiders to get back into their comfort zone, in a revenge game against a team that struggles on the road. Terrence Shannon is a beast as well, but look for Kevin McCullar to continue improving from his return to the court.

McCullar has scored 10 points or more in six of his last seven games, as the one game in which he failed to score 10 points (only scored two) was against West Virginia. He should have a mindset of playing much better, although he did have two steals in the game. He saw four in the Red Raiders' latest home game against Oklahoma, so keep your eye on McCullar in this one.

Inside the Stats – West Virginia Mountaineers

• PS/G: 76.6 (70th)
• PA/G: 70.9 (195th)
• Off Rtg: 107.4 (78th)
• Def Rtg: 99.5 (186th)

Inside the Stats – Texas Tech Red Raiders

• PS/G: 74.4 (115th)
• PA/G: 61.7 (14th)
• Off Rtg: 108.9 (54th)
• Def Rtg: 90.3 (19th)

Key Players to Watch

• WVU - Miles McBride (15.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.6 APG)
• WVU - Derek Culver (14.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG)
• TT - Mac McClung (17.2 PPG)
• TT - Terrence Shannon (13 PPG, 5.1 RPG)

West Virginia-Texas Tech Predictions

The spread is tricky because it has gone up, down and all-around since dropping. The line opened at -6, but the best spread is -4.5 while others have a -5-point spread. This may not matter if Texas Tech's defense arrives, along with West Virginia's road struggles. The -4.5 and -5 are fine, but anything in the -6-point spread territory should be slowly approached or not at all.

Its tough to see West Virginia touch 70 points here, as Texas Tech's 14th-best defense has shown up at home lately. With revenge on the Texas Tech mind as well, expect West Virginia to hover between 50 and 69 points - although they may keep it close.

There's always the thought McBride could go off, but Chris Beard's bunch will probably make sure that doesn't happen again. Feel free to fade West Virginia's 12-6 O/U and/or Texas Tech's 7-12 ATS, but if you can get -4.5 for Texas Tech then they should cover.

• Score Prediction: Texas Tech 73 West Virginia 66
• Best Bets: Texas Tech -4.5
• Best Bets: UNDER

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