College Hoops Odds – Bet the Big 12 Tournament

The Big 12 men’s basketball tournament kicks off in Kansas City, Missouri today with Oklahoma State facing Nebraska in the early game, while Oklahoma takes on Baylor and Texas Tech hopes to survive Missouri in the evening games.  Let’s take a look at the college hoops odds and picks for the two evening games and get this tournament started on the right foot!

College Hoops Odds

Oklahoma Sooners (13-17) vs. Baylor Bears (18-12)

Wednesday, March 9 at 7:00 PM ET

Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri

TV:  ESPN 3

College Hoops Odds: Oklahoma +7, Baylor -7, Game Total: 129

Coming into tonight’s matchup, the Sooners are seeded tenth and the Bears seventh.

After their Elite Eight appearance last year, the Baylor Bears were a bit disappointed with their 2011 season, but all can be made up for by winning the Big 12 tournament and securing a spot in the Big Dance.  Baylor is led, once again this season, by lead scorer LaceDarius Dunn, which is averaging 19.8 points per game.  Coming into the tournament with two consecutive losses to Texas and Oklahoma State, the Bears need to prove they are not finished yet. 

Baylor regularly has problems with the Sooners, as Oklahoma holds a 36-8 record over the Bears, but the teams have never faced each other in the Big 12 Championship before. Baylor plays a tough defensive scheme, which will likely cause problems for the Sooners. Watch out for the Sooners’ Cade Davis, who averages over 13 points per game and lead Oklahoma over Oklahoma State in the regular season finale.

Although I would give Baylor the edge to win the game, I’m afraid it will be closer than a seven-point victory.  Take the Sooners!

College Hoops Odds Free Pick: Take the Oklahoma Sooners + 7

Texas Tech Red Raiders (13-18) vs. Missouri Tigers (22-9)

Wednesday, March 9 at 9:30 PM

Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri

TV:  ESPN 3

College Hoops Odds: Tech + 10.5, Missouri – 10.5, Game Total: 153.5

This game pits fifth-seeded Mizzou against the tenth-seeded Red Raiders of Texas Tech.  The Tigers ended the regular season with a hard-fought loss to the Kansas Jayhawks, 70-66. Most college hoops betting fans expect that Mizzou will take care of Texas Tech fairly easily, despite losing their last three games in a row.  In the one regular season game between these two teams, the Tigers managed to snuff out the Raiders 92-84 at home.  In that matchup, Texas Tech was inept at stopping the Tiger offense, especially Marcus Demon, who scored 20 that night.

The Red Raiders hope to make it into the second round of the tournament, in what will likely be the last tournament for their coach Pat Knight, who was fired last week, but is finishing out the season.  However, Missouri has a deep bench, which has been clutch for them throughout the season, even in their win over the Red Raiders, which permits the Tigers to play at full speed for the entire 40 minutes.

Even though Tech may play strong, the Tigers are the much better team and will likely cover the 10.5-point spread tonight.

College Hoops Odds Free Pick: Take the Missouri Tigers – 10.5