The college basketball season is in full swing, presenting a wealth of betting opportunities as numerous teams compete daily. With excellent tools at our disposal, such as Bart Torvik and KenPom for team-level efficiency insights, along with Sports Reference for a variety of team statistics, bettors have a solid foundation to assess their options.
One highly anticipated matchup is between Texas Tech and Arizona, scheduled to tip-off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, there are various betting lines available, but the under on the total points set at 157.5 is particularly intriguing.
Arizona boasts a strong defensive record, currently ranked second in KenPom’s defensive metrics. They had previously held four out of five opponents to 74 points or fewer before allowing 82 points in their recent game against Kansas. Texas Tech contributes well to the under as well, ranking 26th in defensive efficiency while maintaining a slower pace, listed 167th in adjusted tempo. Moreover, Texas Tech has successfully restricted their last three opponents to under 65 points.
Despite Arizona’s offensive ranking at eighth and their speed ranking at 23rd, projections from Torvik suggest a total point count closer to 154.
Freshman Koa Peat is expected to play a crucial role, especially at home where he averages 14.9 points per game. In his last six home games, he has scored at least 13 points multiple times and has shown a tendency to draw more fouls, evidenced by his higher free-throw attempts at home (4.8 per game) compared to just 2.7 when on the road. Following a rough performance against Kansas—where he recorded his lowest shooting percentage of the season—Peat is anticipated to bounce back positively at McKale Memorial Center.
Betting enthusiasts can find a range of options for this exciting evening of college basketball. With careful analysis and research, there’s potential for favorable outcomes. New users at FanDuel can also take advantage of a promotional offer for bonus bets upon making their first wager, adding further incentive to partake in the action.
As the season progresses, opportunities for strategic bets are sure to arise, offering both fans and bettors a thrilling experience in the world of college basketball.