Big 12 Betting Roundup: Plenty of Contenders Chasing Texas
Oklahoma State Surging
Things are getting pretty interesting in the Big 12. While Texas continues to sit atop the conference standings, four teams are just one game back and two others are just two games behind. That leaves seven of the 10 teams in contention as the conference race begins to heat up.
Three ranked teams have already lost this week and at least one more will fall with Baylor and TCU squaring off on Saturday.
There are seven Big 12 teams in the top 23 in the NCAA NET Rankings, a formula used to help when it comes time to seed the NCAA Tournament field.
Texas moved up from 10th to fifth in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and from ninth to sixth in the coaches poll, receiving one first-place vote in the latter of the two national rankings.
Kansas remained eighth in the coaches poll and fell a spot to No. 9 in the writers’ poll.
Iowa State, Kansas State, Baylor, and Texas Christian are in the top 20 in both polls.
Kansas (-145) remains the heavy favorite in the odds to win the Big 12 title followed by Kansas State (+500), Iowa State (+600), and Texas (+600).
According to the college basketball odds, Kansas (+1200) is fourth in the odds to win the national title while Baylor and Texas come in at +2200 and +2800.
Here’s a look at Saturday’s games in the Big 12 with some odds and betting information to consider.
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports, and college basketball lines. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
Game of the Week
Baylor vs TCU
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Feb. 11, 4:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
This is just the fourth true road game played by Baylor with the Bears having only one road win.
The good news is that counting the neutral-site games, freshman Keyonte George is averaging 19 points away from home this season. George has scored more than 20 points four times as the Bears (18-6, 7-4 Big 12) have won eight of their last nine games.
TCU (17-7, 6-5) is coming off one of its worst defensive performances in a loss to Kansas State as the Horned Frogs were outrebounded 40-28 and were -7 in offensive rebounds.
Texas Christian’s reserves outscored its starters in the game and that is not ideal.
TCU snapped a three-game losing streak to the Bears with its 88-87 win when listed by the sportsbook as a six-point underdog on the road on Jan. 4. Mike Miles had 33 points and Xavier Cork blocked the potential game-winning layup in the closing seconds.
It was just the second time in the last seven meetings that a game between the Horned Frogs and Bears was decided by single digits.
Rest of Saturday’s Schedule
West Virginia vs Texas
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Feb. 11, Noon ET (ESPN2)
There could be plenty of points in this game considering that Texas is first and West Virginia third in the conference in scoring offense. Both teams rank in the bottom half of the conference in scoring defense.
Texas (19-5, 8-3) looks to bounce back from a loss to Kansas on Monday
Marcus Carr, who had 26 points over the previous three games, went off for 29 to lead the Longhorns.
Kedrian Johnson and Emmitt Matthews combined for 42 points to lead the Mountaineers to the upset of No. 11 Iowa State on Wednesday as West Virginia (15-9, 4-7) picked up its third win of the season against a ranked team.
Third top-15 win in three weeks ✅#HailWV
— WVU Men’s Basketball (@WVUhoops) February 9, 2023
The Longhorns are 5-1 over the last six games against West Virginia. Three of the last five matchups have been decided by two points or less with four of those games finishing over the total.
Something to consider for those who bet online: There have been 29 games played by the Mountaineers and Longhorns to finish over the total, with West Virginia topping the Big 12 with 16 contests going over.
Kansas vs Oklahoma
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Feb. 11, 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
It has been a bit of a bumpy ride for the Jayhawks as they were held to 53 points in a loss at Iowa State and then went off for 88 points in a victory over Texas.
Gradey Dick continued his impressive freshman season with a team-leading 21 points for Kansas (19-5, 7-4) in the Texas win.
Oklahoma fell at Baylor despite shooting 49% from the field.
Joe Bamisile, who was held scoreless in eight of nine games, had 10 points off the bench for his second straight double-digit scoring game for the Sooners (12-12, 2-9).
Kansas has won the last four games against Oklahoma and seven of the last eight. However, the Sooners have covered against the Las Vegas odds in four of the last five meetings. The Jayhawks look to sweep the regular-season series for three times in the last four seasons.
Oklahoma State vs Iowa State
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Feb. 11, 6:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Perhaps only those residing in Stillwater would know that Oklahoma State has the longest active winning streak in the Big 12.
The Cowboys (15-9, 6-5) have won four straight after Wednesday’s 71-68 win over Texas Tech. Bryce Thompson posted his second 20-point effort of the season against the Red Raiders with 21 points and four steals.
Iowa State (16-7, 7-4) couldn’t follow up the huge win over defending national champion Kansas as three players, including two starters, fouled out in a physical affair against West Virginia.
The Cyclones continue to lead the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 61.7 points per game.
Oklahoma State has won six of the last seven games against the Cyclones and covered against the college basketball lines in five of them.
When the teams met in Stillwater on Jan. 21 Avery Anderson had 18 points in a 61-59 win by the Cowboys.
Four of the last five games in the series finished under the total.
Shooting 59% from the field so far in this one 📈
1ST 7:37 | OSU 26 – TTU 22#LetsWork | #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/Qz2d9HryXX
— OSU Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) February 9, 2023
Kansas State vs Texas Tech
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Feb. 11, 7:00 p.m. ET (Big 12 Now)
The Wildcats (19-5, 7-4) made quite a statement with a 21-point win over fellow ranked team, Texas Christian. Markquis Nowell scored in double figures for the sixth straight game with 18 points and seven assists. He is averaging 18.3 points and 6.0 assists during those six outings.
De’vion Harmon has 39 points over the last two games for Texas Tech (12-12, 1-10) to take some of the offensive pressure off of leading scorer Kevin Obanor.
Kansas State has covered in each of the last six meetings. That includes a 68-58 win at home on Jan. 21 when listed as a 3½-point favorite. The Wildcats are looking for back-to-back wins in the series for the first time since 2014 and 2015. Five of the last seven games in the series went over the total.
Kansas State leads the Big 12 with a 17-7 record against the college basketball betting lines.
