A big matchup in the Big 12, featuring the Bears and Longhorns, kicks off the last week of the regular season. This Texas showdown will happen tonight, March 4th, at Foster Pavilion in Waco. And the home team, Baylor, is a 7-point favorite, according to bookie apps. These teams faced off on the hardwood floor earlier in the season, with the Longhorns securing a victory by only two points.
Both teams are coming off wins. Baylor triumphed at home 82-74 over Kansas, while the Longhorns beat Oklahoma State 81-65 also at home. The season is wrapping up, but the conference tournament picture is still not fully defined, although both teams are in good positions. Let’s inspect the odds for a bet with a DraftKings sports promo code.
The Bears Play At a Slower Pace
Baylor occupies the 3rd seed in the Big 12 with a 21-8 overall record and a 10-6 record within the conference. The regular season conference title is out of reach at this point, but the Bears can make a push in the tournament. Baylor has won two straight games, and their performance is a story of two opposites. They rank 5th in offensive efficiency and 67th in defense efficacy.
One notable aspect is Baylor's slower pace of play, which is apparently intentional. This team buys its time on offense, and that strategy pays dividends, which is evident from the 81.6 points per game average. Accuracy is respectable, with 48.9% from the field and 39.7% from the three-point line.
The most productive player on the roster is Ja'Kobe Walter, a player with the potential to be a future top NBA draft pick. Walter scores 14.7 points per game on average and contributes with 4.6 rebounds per contest. Senior Rayj Dennis generates 13.4 points per game, and Jalen Bridges averages 11.2 points per night. Defensively, the Bears allow 70.9 points per game, highlighting their strategy to outscore opponents rather than prevent them from scoring.
The Longhorns Are Headed to the NCAA Tournament
Texas won three out of their last four games, signaling they are getting into a rhythm before the conference tournament. The Longhorns have a 19-10 overall and an 8-8 conference record. Like the Bears, the Longhorns do not play fast, scoring 75.7 points per game and ranking 26th in offensive efficiency.
The shooting percentages show 47% accuracy from the floor and 36.2% from beyond the arc. Texas has four double-digit scorers on its roster, with Dylan Disu leading the pack with 16.8 points per game, while Max Abmas drops 16.5 points per game. Abrams is the most dangerous player from deep, having made 81 threes this season. The Longhorns concede 68.4 points per game, and Texas can guard their perimeter because of their strength on the inside.
Betting Prediction
It's hard to see a scenario where Baylor will lose this matchup at home, and the betting lines reflect that opinion. Sportsbooks with free bet offers provide -290 odds on a moneyline bet on the Bears and +235 odds on the underdog Longhorns. The Bears receive -105 odds to cover as a 7.5-point favorite, while Texas gets -115 odds to cover their point spread.
The total is 140 paint with -110 odds for both the Over and Under bets. Both teams have similar shooting stats and style of play, but the home-court advantage is a factor, especially since this is the Bears' last game at home for the season.
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