Lousiana Tech Bulldogs at Texas Longhorns
Wednesday, 11/10/10, 9:00 PM EST; TV: ESPNU
Opening Point Spread: Texas -18.5
Current Betting Line: Texas -21
Opening Total: 148
Current Total: 143.5
Louisiana State may take a step back during the 2010-11 campaign following the program’s second 20-win season since 2002 due to losing its top three scorers from last year. The Bulldogs return six letterwinners and two starters from last season’s team that went 24-11 overall including a 9-7 record in conference. Tonight’s game will mark the earliest the program has ever started a regular season. The team last faced a ranked opponent when taking on the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion on December 28, 2008, falling 78-55 in the contest. Following this brief one-game trip on the road, Louisiana Tech will open its home schedule with a game against Austin College. The squad is 34-21 ATS over the last three years and the college basketball lines page has them listed as a big underdog.
The Bulldogs have fared well against teams from Texas by winning their last six such games with the last being a 99-94 win at Houston on December 29, 2010. Louisiana Tech will be facing the Longhorns for just the third time in series history, dropping both contests by a combined 21 points. The program has posted a 6-30 all-time mark against the Big 12 Conference, tallying its last win over at Texas Tech in 2005. Many are expecting a season of growing pains for a squad that has just eight years of Division I experience.
Texas used a 23-9 run early in the second half to propel itself to a comfortable 83-52 victory over Navy in the first round of the 2K Sports Classic. The team was led by Jordan Hamilton’s 26 points and 10 rebounds, but struggled mightily by going 4 of 17 on 3-pointers. It was Hamilton’s second career double-double and he tallied it in just 26 minutes. The Longhorns held Navy to 30.2 percent shooting and also posted a 50-30 edge in rebounding. The frontcourt of Gary Johnson, Hamilton and Tristan Thomson combined for 27 boards. Texas improved to 86-19 all-time in season-opening games and 11-2 during the Rick Barnes era. The team is 7-8 ATS as a home favorite of 12.5 points or more the past three years.
The Longhorns produced their 11th straight season with 20 wins last year and have won at least 10 conference games in nine of Barnes’ 12 seasons in Austin. Texas is warming up for a difficult upcoming schedule that includes seven opponents in the regular season who are currently ranked in the AP Top 25. During his 12 seasons on the bench, Barnes has guided the Horns to a 50-60 record against ranked teams. A few holes will need to be filled before taking a step up in competition, as the team lost 54 percent of its scoring and 54 percent of its rebounding from the 2009-10 season.
Bettors will make note that the Bulldogs are 0-4 ATS in their last four games as a road underdog, while the Longhorns are 4-12 ATS as a favorite.
The season is just getting started and the team at Maddux Sports will have a full-season of winning NCAA basketball picks at your disposal. Don’t miss out and get in the game today!
