The Baylor Bears made the March Madness Big Dance six times from 2008 through last year. In that span the Bears made the Elite Eight twice and Sweet Sixteen once. Head coach Scott Drew was celebrated for creating an unprecedented era of glory. But this season has been a disappointment for Drew’s Bears. Despite the dip they have still been a decent public betting NCAA Basketball value. Shaka Smart arrived at the University of Texas in 2015 after leading Virginia Commonwealth to five straight March Madness bids. He led VCU to the Final Four in 2011. He was acclaimed in Austin as the bright young wonderkid that would reinvent the game. After making the NCAA Tournament in his first season he is facing a third straight season of not getting an invite. Texas hosts Baylor on Monday.
Baylor Bears vs. Texas Longhorns Betting NCAA Basketball
Date and Time: Monday, February 12, 2018, 9 p.m. Eastern
Location: Frank Erwin Special Events Center, Austin, Texas
NCAA Betting Online Odds at SBG:
| Team | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor | +3½ (-110) | 133 (-110) |  |
| Texas | -3½ (-110) | 133(-110) | |
| |||
Bears vs. Longhorns TV Coverage: ESPN
The Baylor Bears have a public betting NCAA Basketball record of 15-10 straight up and 11-7 against the spread. The Bears are playing their best ball of the season. They are 3-1 straight up and 4-0 against the line in their last four games. Baylor is coming off a huge 80-64 home upset win over #10 Kansas. Over the total has paid out in five out of the last seven BU games. Senior guard Manu Lecomte leads the Bears with 17 points per game. Lecomte had 18 points and six assists in the win over KU.
Texas Longhorns
The slumping Texas Longhorns are 15-10 straight up and 11-10 against the spread. Texas has lost three out of their last four games straight up. They have failed to cover their last two matchups. Over the total has hit in four of the last five games for Hook ‘em. Smart’s Horns are coming off a bad 71-87 loss at TCU. A dreadful offense that ranks 229th in the country is hampering the rebuild. Freshman forward Mohamed Bamba has impressed. He leads Texas with 13.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
Baylor Bears
The Baylor Bears have had the sportsbook online advantage in this head to head series. In the last nine games between Baylor and Texas the Bears got the money seven times. Over the total has paid in three out of the last five meetings in this rivalry. At the Frank Erwin Special Events Center Baylor has controlled the cashier’s cage. The Bears have covered six out of their last eight games at Texas. The over has cleared in five out of the last six meetings in this series at Austin.
Matchup to Watch
Baylor has been in good form for public betting NCAA Basketball lately. The Bears also boast far better balance. The inconsistent Texas offense is a big turn off this year. The inability to score makes for risky wagering on the Horns. Baylor also has the proven track record of getting the money at Texas.
Bears vs. Longhorns NCAA games Betting Odds Picks
In this matchup of mediocre Big 12 teams Baylor is the more attractive pick. Their balance and recent play rate them the call.
NCAA Betting Online Pick: Baylor Bears
NCAA Betting Online Score Prediction: Bears 74, Longhorns 68
Watch highlights of Baylor’s upset win over Kansas.