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Update: As of 5:00 p.m., here are the updated bet splits for the Big 12 Championship Game:
Oklahoma State: +3, 74% of action, 79% of bets
Texas: -3, 26% of action, 21% of bets
The Oklahoma State Cowboys and star Cade Cunningham put on their best performance of the season to knock off No. 1 seed Baylor. while the Texas Longhorns advanced in the least-dramatic way possible to reach the final of the 2021 Big 12 Tournament.
Kansas went home due to COVID-19 testing protocols before their matchup with UT, but that shouldn’t overshadow an up-and-down season for the Longhorns that’s coming together at the right time. Texas has won five of their last six, including splitting two games against Texas Tech, the win coming on Thursday in this tournament. These are the pressing teams of head coach Shaka Smart’s past, but they are efficient and balanced offensively. Courtney Ramey is one of the best three-point shooters in the country, and senior guard Matt Coleman pulls it all together.
For OSU it starts with Cunningham, who is likely off to the winner of the NBA Draft Lottery next season. The 6’8 freshman shoots 41% from three-point range, but is also a playmaker with a 21% assist rate on possessions when he’s on the floor. The Pokes shot 50% from the field yesterday against Baylor, and outrebounded one of the toughest teams on the glass in America 29-22.
Let’s take a look at the matchup for the Big 12 Championship game at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Oklahoma State vs. Texas, 6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Point Spread: Texas -1.5
Point Total: 144.5
No one is playing better than OSU right now, who have won eight of nine and flipped their only loss during that streak to Baylor yesterday. These two teams split during the regular season, with Texas winning at home 77-74 and OSU holding on for a 75-67 win in double overtime on February 6th.
But on current form the Pokes are the team you don’t want to play, and they’re getting points here. If this was a pick ‘em, we’d flip a coin. But we’ll take the 1.5 in what should be a terrific college basketball game.
The pick: Oklahoma State +1.5
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