The college basketball betting board for Monday is headlined by a clash between a pair of Top-15 programs as the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders head to Morgantown to face the No. 14 West Virginia Mountaineers.
Oddsmakers are expecting a close tilt, with the Mountaineers currently installed as 2-point home favorites against the Red Raiders, who haven't played since January 16.
We break down the college basketball odds for this Big 12 showdown and bring you our best free Texas Tech vs. West Virginia picks and predictions for Monday, January 25, with tipoff at 9 p.m. ET.
Texas Tech Red Raiders at West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Preview
Key Injuries
Texas Tech: Joel Ntambwe F (Out).
West Virginia: Isaiah Cottrell F (Out).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Red Raiders are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning percentage above .600. Find more NCAA betting trends for Texas Tech vs. West Virginia.
NCAAB Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonFanDuel opened West Virginia -2.5 for this 9 p.m. ET tipoff, and the line has spent all day at -1.5, at various prices. As of 6 p.m. ET, the Mountaineers are taking 53 percent of spread bets, but the Red Raiders are landing 61 percent of spread money. The total rose from 135.5 to 137.5, then receded to -136.5 mid-morning and is still there, with 69 percent of bets on the Over and 59 percent of money on the Under.
Check out the full line movement for this gameAgainst the Spread (ATS) Pick
It's been a while since we've seen Chris Beard's Red Raiders take to the floor, which means they've had plenty of time to simmer after losing 68-60 at home to Baylor in their previous game. They shouldn't feel too bad about that defeat since Baylor might have the best team in the country, and the Red Raiders are still 5-2 SU in their last seven games with a big win on the road against No. 5 Texas.
West Virginia is fresh off a 69-47 beatdown of Kansas State which allowed the Mountaineers to bounce back from a close 72-70 loss to Texas. The Mountaineers have now alternated wins and losses for the last six games.
This line is very close for good reason. Not only are Texas Tech and West Virginia practically neck-and-neck in the National Rankings they are also extremely close in the KenPom adjusted efficiency margin and have near-identical marks when it comes to turnover percentage, rebounding rate and free throw shooting.
So which way are we leaning? With two teams so close across the board, we think the Mountaineers' superior size and home-court advantage should give them a narrow edge.
Keep in mind that the Mountaineers are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 home games against teams with a road winning percentage above .600, and that the home side is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings head-to-head. Texas Tech is also just 1-7 ATS in its previous eight contests against schools above .600.
PREDICTION: West Virginia -2 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
Both of these teams seem to play suffocating defense every season and this year is no different. Texas Tech ranks fifth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom, while holding opponents to just 39.4 percent shooting from the field.
The Mountaineers rank 17th in adjusted defensive efficiency and are limiting foes to just 61.8 points per game at home.
Meanwhile, both teams have struggled to shoot consistently from the field. Despite having four players averaging double digits, led by Mac McClung and his 16.3 ppg, Texas Tech ranks just 200th in the country in two-point shooting percentage.
Likewise, West Virginia ranks just 301st in shooting percentage from inside the arc, despite the strong play of guard Miles McBride (15.3 points and 4.1 assists per game) and big man Derek Culver (13.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest).
When you add in the slow tempo that Texas Tech plays at, along with the fact that the Mountaineers are 10-4-1 to the Under in their previous 15 home games, we're backing the Under.
PREDICTION: Under 137 (-110)
Texas Tech vs West Virginia Betting Card
- West Virginia -2 (-110)
- Under 137 (-110)
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