Arizona Wildcats vs Texas Tech Red Raiders NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/18/25
Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Wildcats versus the Red Raiders? Tip off is at at 2:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN2. The game will be played at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, TX. This Big 12 conference matchup has an over/under of 150.5 points, and Texas Tech is favored to win by -5.5 at home vs. Arizona.
ARIZONA WILDCATS VS TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Texas Tech Red Raiders -5.5
This game will be played at United Supermarkets Arena at 2:00 ET on Saturday, January 18th.
WHY BET THE TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-68 in favor of the Red Raiders.
- Not only will Texas Tech pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -5.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 150.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Will the Wildcats Defense Show Up on the Road?
Arizona Wildcats Recent Game/Games
Arizona improved to 11-5 on the season with an 81-70 home win over Baylor on Tuesday. The Wildcats entered the game as -5.5 favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 151, just over the 149.5 O/U line.
Arizona jumped out to a 42-19 lead by halftime but allowed Baylor to score 51 points in the second half while scoring 39 themselves.
In their latest game, Arizona’s offense put up 81 points, shooting 53.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 59.3%. They connected on 50% of their three-point attempts, going 7-for-14, and hit 55% of their two-point shots, making 22 of 40. The Wildcats also shot 64% from the free-throw line, converting 16 of 25 attempts.
Henri Veesaar was a standout, scoring 19 points in 20 minutes, shooting 9-for-11 from the field and hitting his only three-point attempt. Arizona dished out 21 assists, with Jaden Bradley contributing 6, while KJ Lewis added 7 assists to go along with his 11 points.
Arizona’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 70 points on 53% shooting from the field. They allowed the opposing team to hit 22 of their 40 two-point attempts, a 55% success rate.
From beyond the arc, Arizona’s defense couldn’t contain the shooters, who went 7/14 for 50%. They also sent the other team to the line 25 times, where they converted 16 free throws, shooting 64%. Arizona allowed 9 offensive rebounds.
Will the Red Raiders Pull Through as the Favored Home Team?
Texas Tech improved to 12-4 on the season with a 61-57 road win over Kansas State on Tuesday. Despite being favored by 6.5 points, the Red Raiders didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 118 fell well short of the 144.5 O/U line.
After trailing 33-31 at halftime, Texas Tech’s defense stepped up, allowing just 24 points in the second half while scoring 30 to secure the win.
Texas Tech managed 61 points in their last game, shooting 49.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.8%. They hit 53.8% of their two-point attempts and 35.7% from beyond the arc, making 5 of 14 threes. At the free-throw line, they connected on just 4 of 7 attempts, shooting 57.1%.
The Red Raiders dished out 17 assists, with Elijah Hawkins leading the way, contributing 9 assists along with 14 points. Darrion Williams added 16 points, while Brendan Hausen knocked down 3 threes, finishing with 13 points. Texas Tech grabbed 9 offensive rebounds in the game.
Texas Tech’s defense was solid, holding their opponent to just 57 points on 36% shooting from the field. They limited two-point opportunities, with the other team making only 10 of 22 attempts (45%).
From beyond the arc, Texas Tech allowed 9 threes on 30 attempts, a 30% shooting rate. They sent the opponent to the free-throw line 12 times, where they converted 10 (83%). Texas Tech also gave up 6 offensive rebounds.