#17 Oklahoma State Cowboys at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
United Spirit Arena – Lubbock, Texas
Opening Line: Oklahoma St -12 1/2
Current Line: Oklahoma St -12
Opening Total: 134 1/2
Current Total: 135 1/2
Opening Money Line: Oklahoma St -800 / Texas Tech +600
Current Money Line: Oklahoma St -800 / Texas Tech +600
The 17-5 Oklahoma St Cowboys are 7-3 in Big 12 having won 5 straight games. The #17 Cowboys can move into a first place tie with Kansas and Kansas St for the Big 12 lead with a win Wednesday night at the 9-12 Texas Tech Red Raiders. Texas Tech is 2-8 in the Big 12 and tied with Texas for second to last in the conference ahead of only 1-10 TCU.
Oklahoma St leads the series 37-15 against Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders are 9-8 in Lubbock. The Cowboys have won 5 straight in the series and 9 of the last 11 including 79-45 last month in Stillwater.
Oklahoma St is coached by Travis Ford. The Cowboys have losses at Virginia Tech, Kansas St, Oklahoma and Baylor and at home to Gonzaga. OSU has wins over Akron, Tennessee, and North Carolina St in a tournament in Puerto Rico along with home wins over South Florida, Missouri St, TCU, West Virginia, Iowa St and Baylor. The Cowboys have road wins at Kansas and Texas Saturday 72-59. The Cowboys are 11-9-1 ATS and the total is 6-9 this season.
Oklahoma St is outscoring teams 72-61 this season. The Cowboys are #44 in points allowed nationally. OSU is shooting 43.5% from the field and 31.9% from 3 point range. The Cowboys are 32nd in free throw shooting making 74.4% from the line. Oklahoma St averages 37.3 rebounds per game, and gives up 30.7 per game. Cowboy opponents are shooting 38.9% from the field and 32.8% from 3 point range. OSU is #35 in opponent’s field goal percentage. The Cowboys average 12 assists, 8 steals, 5 blocks, and 13 turnovers a game.
Guard Markel Brown averages 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1 steal per game. Guard Marcus Smart averages 14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3 steals per game. Guard-forward Le’Bryan Nash averages 13.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. Guard Phil Forte averages 11.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. Michael Cobbins averages 6.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. Kamari Murphy, Philip Jurick, and Kirby Gardner make up the rest of the rotation. Guard Jean-Paul Olukemi (knee) is out for the season.
Texas Tech is led interim coach Chris Walker. Walker became the head coach when Billy Gillespie had to step down for health reasons just before the season started. The Red Raiders have home losses to Arizona, McNeese St, Alabama, Arizona St, Kansas, West Virginia, and Kansas St , along with road losses at Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, Texas and Baylor 75-48 Saturday. The Red Raiders have lost 4 straight games. Texas Tech has key wins at TCU and at home against Iowa St. The other Tech wins are all over inferior teams. Texas Tech is 6-8 ATS and the total is 3-8 this season.
Texas Tech is being outscored 70-66 this season. The Red Raiders are shooting 42.1% from the field and 26.7% from 3 point range. Tech is #342 out of 347 teams in three point shooting. The Red Raiders make 68.5% of their free throws. Texas Tech averages 34.1 rebounds per game, and give up 30.9 rebounds per game. Rex Raider opponents are shooting 45.1% from the field and 36.8% from 3 point range. Texas Tech averages 11 assists, 8 steals, 3 blocks, and 15 turnovers.
Forward Jaye Crockett averages 12 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. Forward Jordan Tolbert averages 9.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1 block per game. Forward Dejan Kravic averages 9.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 assists per game. Guard Josh Gray averages 9.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Dusty Hannahs averages 6.1 points per game. Daylen Robinson, Jamal Williams, Jr., Todrick Gotcher and Ty Nurse also get significant minutes in the rotation. Williams is questionable with a leg injury. Forward Aaron Ross is out for the season with a knee injury. Trency Jackson is out for the season due to being ineligible. He averaged 6.6 points a game.
Oklahoma St is 6-0 ATS against teams with losing records, 2-5 after a straight up win, and 0-4 after a cover. The last 5 games in Lubbock in this series have gone over the total.
Texas Tech is 5-12 ATS after a straight up loss of more than 20 points, 2-5 overall, and against Big 12 teams.
Let’s be clear, Texas Tech is not a good basketball team, and now they are banged up on top of it. Oklahoma St should win this game by at least 20 points if properly motivated. However, with a crucial game against in-state rival Oklahoma coming up Saturday in Stillwater, the Cowboys might be looking ahead. I am not saying they will lose, but they could allow Texas Tech to hang around the 12 point number.
Our college basketball handicappers are crushing the sports books this year. Don’t miss out on any more winners this season.
