The No. 2 Missouri Tigers have a 2-1 spread mark in their last three road games, with the ‘over’ also cashing at 2-1. They now head south for a “Big Monday” matchup against the Texas Longhorns, who are 3-5 ATS in their first eight contests of Big 12 Conference play.
Sportsbooks opened the primetime battle at a pick’em, followed by
early sports betting ‘steam’ on Texas shifting the Longhorns to be one-point favorites. NCAA Basketball odds makers first set the ‘total’ at 146 ½,
with ‘under’ wagers quickly driving the number south to 145 ½.
Tigers hold off Texas
Tech
Missouri’s latest win came in Saturday’s 63-50 victory as a 23
½-point home favorite against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The Tigers were held to 39.6 percent field
shooting, while helped by Texas Tech’s 21 turnovers.
Tigers guard Kim English notched a team-high 22 points, with a
dozen coming from the senior’s 4-for-6 day beyond the arc. Missouri’s Phil Pressey and Marcus Denmon logged
12 assists and six rebounds, respectively, while uniting for 22 points and
seven steals.
The contest’s combined 113 points plunged below the ‘total’ of 141
½, bringing the ‘under’ to 5-3 in the Tigers’ last eight games. Missouri hit 19-of-23 free throws, while
being edged out in boards, 29-22.
Longhorns fall short at
Baylor
Texas logged its fourth loss in five games with Saturday’s 76-71
defeat as a seven-point road dog against the Baylor Bears. The Longhorns were outrebounded, 37-24, while
connecting at 40 percent from the field.
Longhorns guard J’Covan Brown piled in a team-high 32 points,
while adding five of his squad’s 14 assists. Brown’s mate Julien Lewis logged a 0-for-6 day from three-point land,
while notching six boards and four steals.
The battle’s combined 147 points leaped above the ‘total’ of 140
½, lifting the ‘over’ to 3-2 in the Longhorns’ last five games. Texas’ Jaylen Bond recorded six rebounds off
the bench, while held to 1-for-5 field shooting in 25 minutes of action.
Back Texas at “The Drum”
Monday’s tip is scheduled for 9 p.m. (ET), with ESPN providing the
national television coverage.
I am adding Texas to my NCAA basketball picks in this home spot, with the
Longhorns off a loss and looking for revenge from a Jan. 14 defeat against
Missouri. The matchup saw Texas come
away with an 84-73 defeat as a 9 ½-point road dog, allowing the Tigers to
connect 53.7 percent of their field buckets.
Mizzou should have a tougher time finding the rims in Texas, with
the Longhorns holding visiting foes to 35.1 percent field shooting and a stingy
56.5 PPG. The Tigers' defense has found
itself in some home-road disparity, giving up a sizable 75.8 PPG in opposing
gyms, including 83.5 PPG in its last two road contests.
J’Covan Brown had a hot day for the Longhorns last time out
against Missouri, draining 6-of-7 buckets from three-point land and sinking
8-of-8 free throws. The junior leads the
Big 12 in scoring (19.7 PPG) and should be able to pile up points again in
Monday’s rematch.
Texas is 5-2 ATS in its last seven home games against foes with
winning road records, while the home team is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings
between these rivals. Missouri has been
overvalued going 0-2 ATS in its last two games, while logging a pair of SU losses
in its last four contests away from home.
My Pick: Take the Longhorns at a low premium here while Brown and Co. look to go all out
in knocking off their high-ranked opposition.