Texas Tech vs. Texas prediction and odds for Saturday, January 14th (Can Texas Tech stop the bleeding?)

Things are quickly going south for Texas Tech this season, and it’s not getting easier against a difficult Big 12 schedule as they go to Austin to face in-state for Texas.

The Longhorns rallied to beat TCU at home earlier this week, their second straight win after firing suspended head coach Chris Beard. Can the Longhorns keep the good vibes rolling against a Texas Tech team that is 0-4 in league play?

Here are the odds for this Saturday night matchup:

Texas Tech vs. Texas odds, spread and total

Texas Tech vs. Texas prediction and pick

Of course, this game had been billed recently as Beard against his former team in Texas Tech, but now he’s gone and the Longhorns need to deal with former Beard assistant Mark Adams’ who hasn’t gotten the most out of a typically stout defense.

The Red Raiders hit rock bottom on the road against a ferocious Iowa State defense, losing 84-50, but this is a team that was on the wrong side of some tough results to start Big 12 play, losing to TCU, Kansas and Oklahoma by a combined 14 points with one coming in overtime.

The Red Raiders struggle to protect the ball, 296th in turnover rate, but they do turn opponents over at a top 30. The defense is compact with their no-middle principles and can turn this Texas team into a perimeter shooting group, something they do not prefer with more than 56% of their points coming on two-point shots, the 44th highest mark in the country, per KenPom. 

Ultimately, this is a buy low spot on a Texas Tech team that needs to get a win in Big 12 play. They may not get an outright upset, but this is a rally spot for them against a Texas team that had to rally from down double digits to win at home earlier this week against TCU. I can see some fatigue setting in for this roster at home and this game staying competitive throughout.

Track all of Reed’s bets at Betstamp HERE!

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.