When Chris Beard was hired as head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders there was a collective yawn. Texas Tech is not a college hoops hotbed even in the best of times. But the program reached a new low with just one March Madness invite between 2008 and 2016. Beard has engineered a remarkable offshore bookmaker turnaround in Lubbock. The Red Raiders boast one of the best defenses in the land. Defense will be needed against Trae Young and the Oklahoma Sooners. Young is the triggerman for the top offense in the country. Texas Tech hosts Oklahoma on Tuesday.
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Date and Time: Tuesday, February 13, 2018, 7 p.m. Eastern
Location: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, Texas
NCAA Betting Online Odds at SBG: (Check Back Later)
Sooners vs. Red Raiders TV Coverage: ESPN
The Texas Tech Red Raiders have an offshore bookmaking record of 21-4 straight up and 12-9 against the spread. Tech has covered the spread in four out of their last five games. They have also won six games in a row straight up. At Kansas State on Saturday the Red Raiders scored their biggest win of the season 66-47. Beard’s team is in sole possession of first place in the Big 12 Conference. A tough as nails defense that ranks fifth best in the nation has catapulted this title run for Tech. Senior guard Keenan Evans triggers the offense with a team best 18.4 points per game. Evans scored 19 points in the win at K State.
The Oklahoma Sooners are 16-8 straight up but just 8-15 against the spread. On the road OU has been a terrible betting value. Coach Lon Krueger’s team has paid out in just two out of eight away games. The Sooners are gushing red ink with eight losses vs. the odds in their last nine tilts. They have also lost three games in a row straight up. OU is coming off an 88-80 loss at Iowa State as six point chalks. Trae Young is averaging 29.5 points and 9.4 assists per game. The freshman sensation had 22 points and 11 assists in the loss at Iowa State. A “defense” that ranks 336th in the country has been the demise of Kreuger’s team.
This has been a fairly even head to head sportsbook series. In their last eight meetings both teams have scored four payouts each. Over the total has hit in four out of the last six games between Oklahoma and Texas Tech. However, at the United Supermarkets Arena the Red Raiders have controlled the cashier’s cage. Texas Tech has six payouts in their last eight home games against Oklahoma. Two out of the last three games in this series at Lubbock have gone over the total.
Matchup to Watch
This Big 12 showdown is a classic offshore bookmaking matchup of opposites. Young and the Sooners are all offense. Defense is of zero priority for OU. Tech has a hard edged defense that is a key asset. They also have just enough offense to create superior team balance.
Sooners vs. Red Raiders NCAA games Betting Odds Picks
Texas Tech has a proven home court advantage over Oklahoma. They also have the defense that can control Young and the prolific OU offense.
NCAA Betting Online Pick: Texas Tech Red Raiders
NCAA Betting Online Score Prediction: Red Raiders 80, Sooners 74
Catch highlights of the Red Raiders win at Kansas State.