Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Texas Longhorns Big 12 Betting Odds and Prediction
February 17, 2022
2021-22 NBA Championship Odds
February 17, 2022
With Super Bowl LVI now in the rearview mirror, a whole bunch of new, wide-eyed college basketball experts have started coming out of the woodwork. All of a sudden, everyone knows everything about every college basketball team regardless of only just tuning in this past Monday. Well, I’ve been taking the college hoops landscape in since the season tipped off way back in November, and I’m here to relay whom I believe has a shot to ultimately cut the nets down come early April. The following are favorite, underdog and longshot investments I’ve already made at DraftKings Sportsbook to this point of the season. While I got in with some more attractive rates of return, there’s still value to be had with the current offerings. That being said, I’m still going to need to cash one of those tickets to lock in the profit. Either that, or take advantage of some value-packed hedging opportunities. Regardless, here’s a list of teams with pay-offs that I believe at the very least make deep runs if not win it all.
National Championship Odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Gonzaga +400
Arizona +800
Kentucky +1000
Auburn +1000
Purdue +1000
Duke +1300
Baylor +1500
Kansas +1500
UCLA +2500
Villanova +2500
Houston +3500
Texas +4500
Ohio State +4500
Texas Tech +4500
Tennessee +4500
Alabama +5000
Michigan State +7000
Providence +7500
Michigan +8000
LSU +8000
USC +9000
Marquette +9000
Favorites to Bet:
Gonzaga Bulldogs +400
Is Mark Few’s squad even better than last season when it got trounced by Baylor in the title game? It’s certainly within the realm of possibility with Chet Holmgren stepping in and taking the Zags offense to new heights; it’s currently the second most efficient attack in the country per KenPom. It’s also balled at the other end of the court (No. 7). You can’t help but think this program finally gets over the hump.
Arizona Wildcats +800
It’s only fitting that the Wildcats clock in right behind the Zags knowing Tommy Floyd sat on Few’s bench the previous 22 years as an assistant coach. It’s his turn to hog the spotlight, and the Cats certainly have a team that looks more than ready to attack the rigors of the NCAA Tournament. But before that, they’ll win the regular season title as well as the Pac-12 tourney.
Kentucky Wildcats +1000
Though Coach Cal’s kids just got their lunch served up by the Tennessee Volunteers, don’t let that sway you from believing the Wildcats still have what it takes to cut down the nets. When this team is 100 percent, there might not be a team in the country that can combat their efficiency at either end of the court. The problem is health with the team needing TyTy Washington to figure out a way to remain on the hardwood.
Purdue Boilermakers +1000
Love me some Boilers! You can’t help but not with the inside/outside combo of Jaden Ivey, Sasha Stefanovic, Zach Edey and Trevion Williams. The quadrant accounts for nearly 68 percent of the team’s scoring output, and they average nearly 83 points per game! The defense leaves a bit to be desired, but this is a team that has the shooting prowess to go all the way in spite of it.
Underdogs to Bet:
Villanova Wildcats +2500
Jay Wright’s program is synonymous with Big Dance success with it winning the title in both 2016 and 2018. Last year’s squad got its heart ripped out at the tail end of the regular season when Collin Gillespie ripped his knee apart. He’s healthy now and the Wildcats look determined to make up for lost time. This is a team that plays sound defense (No. 27), is deadly from beyond the arc (No. 52), and hits its throws (No. 1). 25-1 isn’t doing this team justice; they’re still underpriced so take advantage!
Houston Cougars +3500
While the Cougars aren’t as good as last year’s edition, it’s still certainly good enough to make another deep run provided it continues to play an efficient brand of ball at both ends of the floor. While 3-point shooting is a concern (No. 121), it makes up for it by forcing turnovers (No. 20), locking down defensively (No. 5), and hitting the offensive glass (No. 6). That trifecta paired with one of the slowest tempo rates in the country (No. 300) is a perfect recipe to frustrate all opposition that gets in their way.
Tennessee Volunteers +4500
We just saw what the Vols could look like when firing on all cylinders in Super Tuesday’s 76-63 skunking of the Kentucky Wildcats. Tennessee has seemingly bounced back from a rough start to SEC play by winning five straight (3-2 ATS). The growth of frosh Zakai Zeigler has been paramount with the youngster going for 10+ points and at least three assists in four of the last five games. Paired with experienced vets, it’ll be up to Tennessee’s young talent to punch this ticket in.
Texas Longhorns +4500
Fear the Beard! Texas has been a tough nut for CBB bettors to crack this season, but it looks to be coming around at the absolute best time of the season. The 1-2 punch of Marcus Carr and Timmy Allen has been a sight for sore eyes with both bigs currently playing their best ball of the season. Similar to Houston, UT frustrates opponents by forcing turnovers, playing in your face D, and slowing the game down to a crawl. Expect this offering to get slashed come the tourney should it continue performing above expectations – buy now!
Texas Tech Red Raiders +4500
Mark Adams has got something special brewing in Lubbock. Playing like a scorned ex-lover, the Red Raiders just rattled off a fifth win through six tries (5-1 ATS) after coming back to sweep the season rivalry from Baylor. The defense is no joke (No. 3) and the offense is starting to get into a rhythm with Adonis Arms, Bryson Williams, and Kevin Obanor proving to be perfect compliments to Terrence Shannon Jr. The team’s playing with a chip on its shoulder, and is dangerous because of it.
Longshots to Bet:
Memphis Tigers +14000
Since Deandre Williams returned to the fold for Penny Hardaway, the Tigers have rattled off five straight wins and covered each and every one of those games at DK. Included in the mix was a dominant home win over UCF which was followed up with road wins at both Houston (+10) and Cincinnati (-3). This team is currently playing like a completely different animal than the one that opened the year with losses in six of its first nine games. Injuries and COVID had much to do with the poor start, but Memphis is healthy now and taking no prisoners!
Miami Hurricanes +15000
Checking in at 19-7 SU and 14-12 ATS with a win already under the belt versus Duke – at Cameron Indoor no less – the Canes are a team nobody will want to run up against in the NCAA Tournament. While the scoring defense has been charitable (No. 247), the offense more than makes up for it with the trio Kameron McGusty (17.8 PPG), Isaiah Wong (15.8 PPG), and Charlie Moore (12.3 PPG). This team is gritty and that’s what you want when backing a big dog on the college basketball futures odds!
Colorado State +20000
In David Roddy we trust! Niko Medved set the foundation with this current crop of Rams a season ago. It’s now starting to bear fruit. With 20 wins in tow and possibly representing a competitive Mountain West Conference as the regular season title winner, CSU’s ability to score and hold onto the basketball paired with rebounding most opponent misses will allow for it to hang with the big boys. Don’t be shocked if CSU at the very least advances to the second weekend!
Rutgers Scarlet Knights +25000
The Scarlet Knights were trendy picks to make a run in last year’s Dance as a No. 10 seed. After surviving Clemson, it unfortunately matched up with a Houston team that went on to win the Midwest Region and fell 63-60. Like Memphis, Rutgers got out to a slow start in splitting its first 10 games. Recently however, Ron Harper Jr. has gone HAM and led them to four straight wins against Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin (on the road), and Michigan. Is that deep run to happen this season? I’m willing to find out at 250-1!
