No. 6 Baylor Bears at No. 4 Missouri Tigers
Saturday, 2/11/12, 1:30 PM EST, TV: ESPN3
Opening Point Spread: Missouri -6.5
Current Betting Line: Missouri -6.5
Opening Total: 147.5
Current Total: 147.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Baylor is looking to bounce back from a 68-54 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks as two-point home favorites, while the team has gone “under” the total in three consecutive contests. “I’m most disappointed with the fight that we had,” commented Bears head coach Scott Drew. The Bears are 2-10 all-time when laying at Missouri, including 10 straight losses that date back to Dec. 17, 1948. The program will definitely look to stay close in this affair, posting a 7-1 mark in games decided by five points or fewer this season. Baylor is 3-7 ATS versus conference opponents this year.
The Bears have gotten off to strong starts in most of their games, trailing at the half only five times this season. Baylor is 10-1 away from home this season and will look to improve upon its current three-game Big 12 road winning streak, which is the longest in the Drew era. Sophomore forward Perry Jones III leads the team offensively, scoring 14.3 points and grabbing 7.7 rebounds per game.
Missouri has won four games in a row since dropping a 79-72 contest to the Oklahoma State Cowboys as 8.5-point road favorites. The Tigers will be featured in a third top-10 matchup this season, posting wins over Baylor and Kansas. Forward Ricardo Ratliffe was a key player in the program’s 89-88 win in the first game of this year’s series, hitting 11-of-14 shots and grabbing eight rebounds. The senior averages 14.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Missouri is 4-0 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points the last two-plus years.
The Tigers have also shown a great ability to pull out close affairs, tallying a 4-0 record in games decided by a single possession. Missouri leads the Big 12 in eight different statistical categories, including scoring 80.5 points per game, while outscoring opponents by 16.2 points a contest. Junior guard Michael Dixon has definitely been coming on, scoring 16.6 points a contest and shooting a team-best 69.2 percent from the floor over the past three games.
Bettors will likely back the Tigers due to their 35-16-2 ATS mark at home, while the Bears are 2-9 ATS after a spread defeat.
Don’t miss out on a winning season and let the college basketball handicappers at Maddux Sports line your pockets with cash. Long term packages are available now!
