Oklahoma State Cowboys + 9, 146 O/U (14-8) 6-9 ATS, 8-8 O/U at Texas Longhorns -9, 146 O/U (15-7) 8-11 ATS, 7-12 O/U Tuesday, February 10, 2009 Frank Erwin Center (16,755) Austin, Texas, TV: Regional by the Big 12 Network Radio: Local FM 98.1/ AM 1300, XM Satellite Ch. 231
By Wilson of Predictem.com
Tonight marks the 74th meeting between the Texas Longhorns and the Cowboy’s of OK State. Texas leads the series 39-34, and the last time these two teams met the Longhorns earned the win 66-59. In fact, Texas has won five consecutive games against the Cowboys and 24 of the last 34 contests going all the way back to the 1976-77 campaign.
Texas is in rare form as they have dropped three straight games which is something they haven’t done since the 2004-05 season when they fell to Kansas, Iowa State, and Colorado. It has been ten years (1998-99) since the Longhorns have lost four games in a row and they look to avoid that scenario tonight.
The Longhorns are averaging 71.5 points per game while giving up 62.8 to their opponents. Texas senior guard A.J. Abrams is one of the key factors in the Longhorns game plan as he gets the job done nearly every outing as her had 16 points in the loss to Nebraska where he just missed a jumper to with nine seconds to go in the game. The loss to the Cornhuskers was preceded by back to back losses to Kansas State and Missouri. Texas is definitely searching for an answer that they hope to find during tonight’s matchup.
Texas is probably one of the best non-ranked teams in the country but they can also be self destructive as proven by the latest three-game slide. However, the play of Abrams along with Damion James and Gary Johnson should eventually gel which can start a great mid season run into the NCAA’s. James comes into tonight’s game with a team high nine double-doubles which bumps him up to fourth all-time on UT’s records.
Oklahoma State comes into the game averaging 83.2 points per game but they allow 75.3 to the opposition. For the bettors out there it may be best to take some action on the under as the 146 total seems a bit high. The Cowboys recently lost to the Kansas Jayhawks who are 8-0 in the Big 12 for the first time since the 2004-05 season. Obi Munelo had 19 points in the Kansas loss and teammate Moses Marshall added 18 of his own in the effort. This OSU team can score a lot of points in bunches and should give Texas a legitimate fight. Byron Eaton will be a handful for the Longhorns defense tonight as he is capable of distributing the ball all over the court- he had ten assists in the Kansas game.
BetOnline will have all of your NCAA basketball action as well as NBA lines up to the minute. The books online and in Vegas have Texas at -9 but can they cover given their latest downfall?
Defense will be a factor as always- basketball is won on the defensive side of the court right? Texas will have the defensive advantage especially with the home crowd and the pressure to snap the three-game losing streak. If the Longhorns can contain Cowboy’s leading scorer James Anderson (16.5 ppg) and Byron Eaton, who actually leads the team in conference play with 16.8 points per game they will increase their odds of winning.
Wilson’s Pick: Texas 72, OSU 70. Both of these teams are in the middle of the Big 12 race but it will be Texas that snaps the streak by earning the win but they do not cover the points. Luck to ya.
