The West Virginia Mountaineers (19-8, 7-7 in Big 12) head to Frank C. Erwin Special Events Center Monday to play the Big 12 Conference-rival Texas Longhorns (16-11, 6-8 in Big 12) at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the West Virginia-Texas odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.
West Virginia at Texas: Three things you need to know
- West Virginia’s 67-60 overtime loss to the TCU Horned Frogs Saturday was its fourth loss in five games and fifth straight road loss. The Mountaineers are now just 3-7 in road games.
- Texas has won back-to-back games over the Kansas State Wildcats, 70-59, Saturday and the Horned Frogs, 70-56, last Wednesday.
- West Virginia drubbed Texas in the first head-to-head meeting of the season, 97-59, Jan. 20. The 97-point output was the most scored by the Mountaineers in a game this season and the 38-point loss was the most lopsided in the five-year stint of Longhorns’ head coach Shaka Smart.
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West Virginia at Texas: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Prediction
West Virginia 69, Texas 57
Moneyline (ML)
Texas (+200) is disappointing because Smart hasn’t been able to turn the talent he’s recruited to Texas into a contending team. The Longhorns have 10 top-100 RSCI recruits on the roster compared to West Virginia (-250), who has only two. The highest AP ranking Texas has had in Smart’s five seasons as coach was No. 17 last season.
We’ve already discussed West Virginia’s recent road slippage and Texas has won three of its last four games against West Virginia, including two consecutive home wins. That’s enough for me to lay off a Mountaineers moneyline wager. Also, I’d need to get Texas at something like +275 and up for me to bet the Longhorns to pull off a home upset.
PASS ON THE MONEYLINE.
Against the Spread (ATS)
The only thing Texas has working for it in this game is being at home. The offense ranks 324th in points per game, 223rd in field-goal percentage and 333rd in rebounds per game. West Virginia is ranked 13th in opponent PPG and ninth in opponent FG%. The Mountaineers are 3-7 against the spread in road games but the Longhorns are 5-10 ATS in home games and 1-8 ATS at home against teams above .500.
BET WEST VIRGINIA -5.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
The combined Over/Under record of the two teams is 19-35 for the season, plus, the majority of West Virginia’s Unders were on the road and the majority of Texas’ Unders were at home. Also, since Smart’s first season (2015), Texas has the second-most Unders in conference games.
UNDER 128 (-121) is the right play on the total.
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