Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Cincinnati Bearcats NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/21/25
The Red Raiders and Bearcats are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPNU. The Bearcats will host the game at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, OH. Texas Tech is favored by -1.5 in this Big 12 conference contest against Cincinnati. The game’s over/under currently sits at 132.5 points.
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS VS CINCINNATI BEARCATS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Cincinnati Bearcats +1.5
This game will be played at Fifth Third Arena at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, January 21st.
WHY BET THE CINCINNATI BEARCATS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-68 in favor of the Bearcats.
- Not only will Cincinnati pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 132.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 145 points.
Can Texas Tech Secure a Road Victory?
Texas Tech Red Raiders Recent Game/Games
The Red Raiders improved to 13-4 on the season with a 70-54 win over Arizona on Saturday. Playing at home, Texas Tech entered the game as -4.5 favorites and covered the spread with the victory.
Texas Tech led 33-26 at halftime and outscored Arizona 37-28 in the second half. The game’s total points of 124 fell short of the 149.5 O/U line.
In their last game, Texas Tech managed just 36.4% shooting from the field, including 26.1% from beyond the arc, finishing with an effective field goal percentage of 40.9%. They did, however, excel at the free-throw line, hitting 88.9% of their attempts.
JT Toppin was a standout performer, recording a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds in 26 minutes. Chance McMillian added 14 points, while Jaden Bradley contributed 11 points and 3 assists.
Texas Tech’s defense was solid, holding their opponent to just 54 points on 36% shooting from the field. They limited two-point opportunities, with the other team making 18 of 43 attempts for 41%.
From beyond the arc, Texas Tech allowed 6 threes on 23 attempts, a 26% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the line 18 times, where they converted 16 free throws for 88%.
Can The Bearcats Secure a Home Victory?
Cincinnati Bearcats Recent Game/Games
Cincinnati improved to 12-5 on the season with a 67-60 win over Arizona State on Saturday. The Bearcats were -10 point favorites at home but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 127, falling short of the O/U line of 136.5.
Cincinnati jumped out to a 36-22 lead at halftime but allowed 38 points in the 2nd half while scoring 31. Despite the win, the Bearcats will look to tighten up defensively moving forward.
Cincinnati’s offense put up 67 points in their last game, shooting 41.7% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 5 of 22 attempts for a 22.7% three-point shooting percentage. Their effective field goal percentage was 46.7%, with a solid 52.6% shooting on two-point attempts.
Jayden Quaintance and Dillon Mitchell both shot 60% from the field, finishing 6 of 10, with Quaintance adding 14 rebounds. Alston Mason contributed 13 points, hitting 2 of 4 from three, while BJ Freeman and Jizzle James each added 12 points, with Freeman connecting on 2 of 5 from deep.
Even with Cincinnati’s defense giving up 60 points, they managed to hold their opponent to 41% shooting from the field. The Bearcats allowed 20 two-point baskets on 38 attempts, a 52% success rate for the other team.
From beyond the arc, Cincinnati’s defense limited their opponent to just 5 made threes on 22 attempts, which is 22% shooting. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 16 times, where they converted 12 of those attempts, shooting 75%.