West Virginia vs Texas Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

West Virginia Mountaineers vs Texas Longhorns prediction and college basketball game preview.

West Virginia Mountaineers vs Texas Longhorns prediction and college basketball game preview.


West Virginia vs Texas Broadcast

Date: Saturday, February 20
Game Time: 3:00 ET
Venue: Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX
Network: ABC

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West Virginia (14-6) vs Texas (13-5) Game Preview

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Why West Virginia Will Win

What kind of shape will Texas be in?

It’s been a rough run in Austin over the last week, and assuming this still goes on, the Longhorns can be forgiven if the total focus isn’t there.

On the court, West Virginia has cranked up its scoring to another level. Instead of hanging around the 70s, it hit 80 or higher in five of the last six games.

It lost the first game to the Longhorns 72-70 when the threes just weren’t falling. The Mountaineers are great on the boards, they force a ton of mistakes, and Texas is more than happy to have turnover problems.

Why Texas Will Win

Texas was able to win the first game because 1) yes, West Virginia couldn’t hit a three and 2) it held its own – and actually won – the rebounding battle.

It’s a bit of a catch-22 with the Mountaineers. They’re great on the offensive boards, but that means they’re missing – the latter is the key. Texas was able to make them miss and get enough rebounds in key possessions.

Texas leads the Big 12 in total rebounds – it wins if it’s able to own the glass. But …

What’s Going To Happen

Can Texas avoid turning the ball over enough to matter, and can it keep up if this starts getting into a shootout?

The Longhorns – with their defense – are stronger when keeping games in the 70s going 0-3 when allowing 79 points or more.

West Virginia will do more to crank up the tempo, Texas will turn it over too much, and it’ll be a wild game that comes down to one or two big plays late, and the road team will create them.

West Virginia vs Texas Prediction, Line

West Virginia 80, Texas 76
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
COMING, o/u: COMING
ATS Confidence out of 5: COMING

Must See Rating: 4

5: A 3rd and 2nd for an NFL starting QB
1: $33.4 million in dead cap money

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West Virginia at Texas college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing Monday’s West Virginia Mountaineers at Texas Longhorns sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks.

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

  1. 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.
  2. Texas has won back-to-back games over the Kansas State Wildcats, 70-59, Saturday and the Horned Frogs, 70-56, last Wednesday.
  3. 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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