The Baylor Bears (15-2, 3-2 Big 12) travel to meet the West Virginia Mountaineers (13-3, 2-2) in a Big 12 conference matchup on Tuesday at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, W.Va. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN2.
SCORE PREDICTION
Baylor 71, West Virginia 63
BEST BETS
Baylor -6.5 (-110) at Westgate SuperBook
BAYLOR BEARS VS. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS PREDICTIONS
The Bears had a rough time in the past week, dropping back-to-back games at home against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, both as double-digit favorites. Baylor suffered a 65-62 loss against the Red Raiders as 11.5-point favorites, and 61-54 loss against the Cowboys as a 14-point underdog. The UNDER connected in each of the games.
It’s not the kind of history Baylor wanted, but they became the first No. 1 team in The Associated Press Top 25 poll to lose two home games in the same week. The Bears actually led a total of just 16 seconds Saturday against the Cowboys.
The Mountaineers would love to add to the misery of the Bears, but West Virginia is dealing with its own issues. It lost 85-59 at Kansas on Saturday, coming nowhere close to cover as 11.5-point underdogs. They did top Oklahoma State at home in the most recent home game on Jan. 11, however, if you’re looking at recent common opponents.
BAYLOR BEARS VS. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS BETTING ODDS
- Baylor -6.5 (-110)
- West Virginia +6.5 (-110)
- Over 137.5 (-110)
- Under 137.5 (-110)
BAYLOR BEARS VS. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS BETTING RESOURCES
- Matchup: Big 12
- Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
- Venue: WVU Coliseum
- Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
- TV-Time: ESPN2 - 5:00 p.m. ET
BAYLOR BEARS BETTING ANALYSIS
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 10-2
- ATS: 9-7-1
- O/U: 10-7
Baylor has not only lost two in a row, the Bears are a dismal 1-5 ATS across the past six games overall after a 5-0 ATS run from Nov. 26-Dec. 20.
The 54 points scored in the loss to Oklahoma State last time out marked a season low, with Baylor hitting just 31%, or 18-of-58, from the field, and 29%, or 8-for-28, from behind the arc. Baylor was even out-rebounded 35-33 by Oklahoma State, and that’s inexcusable. The Bears also coughed it up 11 times to just 10 times for the Cowboys.
It might be good for the Bears to get out of Waco and on the road, as this team has covered seven of the past nine games on the road dating back to last season. That includes a 94-89 overtime win and cover as 3.5-point favorites on March 2 last season as the OVER connected.
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS BETTING ANALYSIS
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 13-3
- ATS: 8-8
- O/U: 7-9
West Virginia managed its second-lowest offensive output of the season, going for just 59 points in a blowout loss at Kansas last time out. The Mountaineers looked like they were shooting it into a soup can, connecting at just a 17-of-63 clip, or 27%. They were also a ghastly 4-of-18, or 22%, from behind the arc, while getting out-rebounded 44 to 35. If you’re searching for positives, and there weren’t many, West Virginia turned it over just 10 times to 12 for Kansas.
The Mountaineers are 2-2 SU/1-3 ATS across the past four games overall, although both of the wins and the cover came at WVU Coliseum. West Virginia is a perfect 10-0 SU at home this season, while covering four of the past five on its home hardwood.
The UNDER hit in five straight in the non-conference scheduled from Nov. 30-Dec. 18, but the OVER is 4- 1 across the past five outings, including three of four games inside the Big 12.
INSIDE THE STATS - BAYLOR BEARS
- Record: 15-2
- VI Ranking: 8
- PS/G: 79.9 (25th)
- PA/G: 59.9 (18th)
- ORtg: 113.9 (18th)
- DRtg: 85.4 (7th)
INSIDE THE STATS - WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
- Record: 13-3
- VI Ranking: 29
- PS/G: 69 (255th)
- PA/G: 62.8 (39th)
- ORtg: 100.9 (222nd)
- DRtg: 91.9 (49th)
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
- BAY: James Akinjo - G (13.9 ppg, 5.7 apg)
- BAY: L.J. Cryer - G (13.1 ppg)
- WVU: Taz Sherman - G (18.9 ppg)
- WVU: Sean McNeil - G (14.3 ppg)
BAYLOR BEARS VS. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS BETTING CONCLUSION
Baylor is just a deeper unit with James Akinjo, Kendall Brown, L.J. Cryer, Adam Flagler and company. Jeremy Sochan is a question mark due to an ankle issue, but even if he were to miss this game, the Bears will still be just fine. Baylor is 2-1 SU/ATS in three games on the road this season, and going out on the road and facing a hostile crowd in Morgantown might actually help galvanize the Bears, who are facing some rare adversity after a hot early start. They’ll get their mojo back with a much-needed win here.
BAYLOR BEARS VS. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS BETTING TRENDS
- Baylor has failed to cover the spread in two straight games.
- West Virginia has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four games.
- West Virginia has gone OVER the point total in four of its last five games.
