Wildcats vs. Red Raiders Prediction
The 11th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders won their Big 12 Conference opener and will look to improve to 2-0 at home this afternoon versus the Kansas State Wildcats. Is the under the right play in a game between two outstanding defensive squads?
Game Snapshot
645 Kansas State Wildcats at 646 Texas Tech Red Raiders
Saturday, January 5, 2019
United Supermarkets Arena at 2PM ET
TV: ESPNU
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Red Raiders are listed as an 11-point favorite on the spread line. The over-under is set at 117.5 points. As of Saturday morning, 60 percent of public bets are coming in on host Texas Tech. Check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Wildcats hammered by Texas
Kansas State lost its Big 12 Conference opener Wednesday night at home by a score of 67-47 versus the Longhorns as its four-game win streak came to a close. Makol Mawien was the lone Wildcats player in double figures for scoring as he finished with 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting plus 3-of-4 at the free throw line. He also pulled down five rebounds. Kansas State was outscored 42-25 in the second half of the defeat. The Wildcats shot only 17-of-52 from the floor including 6-of-18 from 3-point range plus 7-of-14 at the free throw line.
Red Raiders hold off Mountaineers
Texas Tech secured a 62-59 victory at West Virginia Saturday to improve to 12-1 on the season. Jarrett Culver scored all 18 of his points in the second half as he shot 6-of-8 from the floor plus 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Culver also grabbed six rebounds and dished out two assists. Matt Mooney tallied 14 points and three boards. Davide Moretti added 12 points plus three steals and two rebounds. The Red Raiders outscored WVU 42-37 in the second half and shot 21-of-55 from the floor, 3-of-18 from 3-point range and 17-of-24 from the free line for the game.
College Basketball Betting Trends
Kansas State
The under is 5-0 in the last five Wildcats games following an ATS loss. The under is 24-9-1 in the last 34 Kansas State games overall.
Texas Tech
The under is 5-1 in the last six Texas Tech games overall. The under is 6-2 in the last eight Red Raiders home games.
Prediction:
Kansas State is offensively challenged with an offensive efficiency ranking outside the top 200 nationally in addition to a pace of play ranking outside the top 300. The Wildcats are definitely getting it done on the defensive end, however as they are fifth in the nation in defensive adjusted efficiency. All of the offensive woes for KSU doesn’t bode well Saturday as it is on the road against the top-rated defensive team in the nation. The Red Raiders play slightly faster than Kansas State, but are still on the slow end of the temp spectrum. Good luck scoring for both teams. I love the under here.
NCAA DAILY PREDICTION: KANSAS STATE WILDCATS/TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS UNDER 117.5