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The UConn Huskies (6-3) face the Texas Longhorns (7-1) on Sunday. Tip-off from Moody Center is set for 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the UConn vs. Texas odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
UConn has found its groove after a tough Maui trip, securing back-to-back wins, including a 76-72 victory over the No. 16 Baylor Bears on Wednesday. The Huskies covered as 3.5-point home favorites, with the Over 144.5 cashing. Freshman F Liam McNeeley delivered a standout performance, posting 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks. UConn also capitalized on Baylor’s mistakes, turning turnovers into 21 points to seal the win.
Texas extended its winning streak to 7 games with a 63-59 road victory over the NC State Wolfpack on Wednesday, covering as 2.5-point favorites while the Under 148 hit. Freshman G Tre Johnson broke a 57-57 tie with a clutch 3-pointer late in the game. He finished with 18 points, hitting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. The Longhorns as a team were sharp from deep, shooting 47.1% (8 of 17).
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
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UConn at Texas odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated at 8:11 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): UConn +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Texas -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Against the spread: UConn +1.5 (-115) | Texas -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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UConn at Texas picks and predictions
Prediction
UConn 71, Texas 69
Moneyline
BET UCONN (+100).
UConn has had some struggles on the road early this season, especially after a humbling 3-game losing streak at the Maui Invitational. However, getting the 2-time defending National Champions at plus odds on the moneyline is hard to ignore.
These early-season losses can provide valuable lessons, and coach Dan Hurley is one of the best at adapting his team to the challenges they face. Texas will likely have the best player on the court in Johnson, but the key question is whether he can carry the Longhorns on his own.
UConn’s defense will aim to slow Johnson and force the supporting cast, like F Arthur Kaluma and F Kadin Shedrick, to play bigger roles. The Huskies are ranked 11th in Effective Field Goal Percentage (59.0%), and they’ve won 4 of the last 5 matchups against Texas. With Hurley’s leadership, expect UConn to bounce back strong.
Against the spread
PASS.
Not much of an advantage to take the point with the Huskies. I’ll keep my wager to the moneyline.
Over/Under
The trends here are a bit confusing. UConn has gone Over in 5 straight games, while Texas has hit the Under in 5 of their last 7 outings. In their last 5 meetings, the Over has hit 3 times. Both teams play at a slow pace—UConn ranks 274th and Texas 230th—but they still score 85 and 80 points per game, respectively.
With these mixed numbers, I’m choosing to PASS on this bet altogether.
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