Before we dive into the Texas Longhorns vs. Xavier Musketeers game let’s review the rules for the FanDuel single game showdown contest.

FanDuel Single Game Contest Rules

Here are the single game contest rules. You have $60,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team MVP. The MVP accumulates 2x times the standard FanDuel fantasy points value.

The remaining four players in your lineup will be the star, pro, and flex plays. The star player will receive 1.5x the standard fantasy points value. The pro player will accumulate 1.2x the standard fantasy points value.

The final two flex positions will receive the standard points value. Having stated that, it is important for you to identify the correct player for your MVP position if you hope to win a FanDuel single game contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game contest, I highly recommend that you check out the FanDuel website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my FanDuel picks for tonight’s Xavier Musketeers vs. Texas Longhorns matchup.

FanDuel NCAA Basketball DFS Picks

MVP-Tre Johnson, Guard, Texas Longhorns $12,000

Tonight’s NCAA First Four matchup between the Xavier Musketeers and the Texas Longhorns promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams vie for a spot in the main tournament bracket. The Texas Longhorns (19-15) enter tonight’s game as slight underdogs. With that said, the Longhorns have shown resilience against tough competition all season. A big reason why that has been the case is talented Texas guard Tre Johnson.

In the 32 games that guard Tre Johnson has played for the Texas Longhorns in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Johnson is averaging a robust 19.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks a game.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the 32 games that freshman guard Tre Johnson has played for the Texas Longhorns this season, Johnson has compiled a 42.7% field goal percentage, a 39.2% three-point percentage and an 89.1% free throw percentage.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the MVP position for a FanDuel NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game DFS contest.

In my view, Tre Johnson is the most likely player to post the most FanDuel points in this evening’s NCAA basketball game. For that specific reason, I am rolling with Texas Longhorns guard Tre Johnson at the MVP position for this one game FanDuel NCAA Showdown contest.

Star-Ryan Conwell, Guard, Xavier Musketeers $11,000

Junior guard Ryan Conwell has certainly been a key contributor to the Xavier Musketeers starting lineup this season.

In the 32 games that guard Ryan Conwell has played for the Xavier Musketeers this season, Conwell is averaging a rather impressive 25.3 FanDuel points a game.

In conclusion, I fully expect Ryan Conwell to continue his outstanding play in tonight’s matchup with the Texas Longhorns.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (FanDuel price noted): Kadin Shedrick, Forward (Texas Longhorns) $9,000: Zach Freemantle, Forward (Xavier Musketeers) $12,500.

Read the rest of "FanDuel NCAA Basketball Picks: Xavier vs. Texas 3/19/25" at Sports Chat Place

Xavier Musketeers Betting Preview

The Xavier Musketeers (21-11, 18-14 ATS) played their best basketball of the season late on as they recorded seven consecutive wins, their longest streak of the year. That run helped the Musketeers to clinch the No. 4 seed for the Big East tournament, but they slipped on the very first step as Marquette was better 89-87 in the quarterfinals. It was a disappointing tournament display for Xavier, who will be looking to squeeze into the Big Dance through the First Four.

Xavier is averaging 78.0 PPG (82nd) and is allowing 70.9 PPG (146th). The Musketeers are getting 33.7 RPG (316th) and dish out 16.9 APG (23rd). Zach Freemantle is the team’s top performer with 17.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 1.0 SPG. Ryan Conwell has 16.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 1.3 SPG, while Dailyn Swain contributes 10.5 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, and a team-high 1.5 SPG.

Texas Longhorns Betting Preview

The Texas Longhorns (19-15, 16-17-1 ATS) unlike Xavier, went through their worst period of the season late on as they suffered seven of the final nine games. That caused the Longhorns to drop to the No. 13 seed in the SEC, but they did beat Vanderbilt in the opening round of the conference tournament and needed a double-overtime to see off Texas A&M in the second round. However, Tennessee stopped them in the quarterfinals.

Texas averages 78.4 PPG (73rd) and allows 72.2 PPG (195th). The Longhorns are 177th in rebounds (35.7) and 266th in assists (13.0). Tre Johnson leads the team with 19.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.8 APG, and a team-high 1.0 SPG. Arthur Kaluma follows him with 12.4 PPG and a team-high 7.6 RPG, while Jordan Pope chips in 11.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.0 SPG.

Why Xavier will beat Texas

• Xavier has won eight of its last nine games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Texas has lost six of its last seven games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Texas has lost the first half in each of its last three games against the Big East Conference.

Total Points Facts

• Seven of Xavier’s last eight night games against the Southeastern Conference have produced a total of 148 or fewer points.
• Twenty-eight of Texas’ last 34 games against non-AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue have produced a total of 151 or fewer points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Texas ranks T48th among Division 1 teams for opponent steals per game this season (5.8).
• Xavier ranks 17th among Division 1 teams for assists per game this season (17.0).
• Xavier ranks 23rd among Division 1 teams for free throws made per game this season (16.8).

Texas vs Xavier Prediction

These teams have met on two occasions before and Texas won both games, the most recent in 2023. I am going with Xavier in this one, though, as the Musketeers are in better form and didn’t have luck against Marquette in the conference tourney. Texas is struggling despite a couple of SEC tournament wins and is just 3-7-0 ATS over the last ten games. I also think we’ll see a bunch of points, but I am backing Xavier to win and cover a modest spread. Xavier has covered the Spread in 19 of its last 33 games.

Read the rest of "Texas vs Xavier Prediction 3/19/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Matchup History

The Tennessee Volunteers won the lone meeting between these two teams by a final score of 74-70 on the road back on January 11^th, 2025. The win made it three straight for the Vols in this head-to-head matchup.

Texas Recap

The Texas Longhorns come into this game fresh off of their 94-89 win over Texas A&M last time out to book their spot in the quarterfinals.

Longhorns Looking For A Third Upset In Three Days

Tre Johnson leads the Longhorns in scoring with 20.1 PPG along with 3.1 RPG and 2.7 APG while Arthur Kaluma has 12.6 PPG with a team-high 7.8 RPG to lead the Longhorns in rebounding and Jordan Pope has 11.1 PPG. Tramon Mark has 10.3 PPG with 3.7 RPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Texas so far this season. Kadin Shedrick has 8.4 PPG with 6.1 RPG as well this year. Julian Larry is also contributing 4.9 PPG with a team-high 3.2 APG to lead the Longhorns in the assist department up to this point in the year. As a team, Texas is averaging 78.2 PPG on 46.3% shooting from the field, 36.1% from three and 74.6% from the foul line this season.

Why the Texas Longhorns will win

• Texas has won each of its last 13 Friday games.
• Tennessee has lost four of its last five games at Bridgestone Arena.

Tennessee Recap

The Tennessee Volunteers come into the conference tournament as the 4-seed, finishing the year with a 25-6 overall record, including a 12-6 mark in SEC conference play.

Vols Looking For First SEC Crown Since 2022

Chaz Lanier leads the Vols in scoring with 17.9 PPG along with 3.9 RPG while Igor Milicic Jr. has 10.2 PPG with a team-high 7.3 RPG to lead the Vols on the glass. Zakai Zeigler has 13.1 PPG with 3 RPG and a team-high 7.5 APG to lead the Vols in the assist department up to this point in the year. Jordan Gainey has 10.9 PPG to round out the group of double-digit scorers for Tennessee up to this point in the year. Felix Okpara also has 7.7 PPG with 6.3 RPG as well on the year. As a team, Tennessee is averaging 74.5 PPG on 45.4% shooting from the field, 34.6% from three and 73.6% from the foul line this season.

Why the Tennessee Volunteers will win

• Texas has lost each of its last eight games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Tennessee has won each of its last six games when playing with a rest advantage.

Tennessee vs Texas Prediction

I’m on Texas here. The Longhorns look like they’ve finally woken out of their slumber, and are on the track to make an NCAA tournament appearance and there’s a good chance that their win over Texas A&M on Thursday put them in the tournament. However, I don’t think that Texas wants to leave it to chance, and I think we see this Longhorns team continue to compete as nothing is for sure in this unless you win the SEC tournament. The Vols are a solid team, but didn’t really win games by margin down the stretch and I think Texas can keep this one within single digits and give themselves a shot to win outright. Give me Texas and the points.

Read the rest of "Tennessee vs Texas Prediction 3/14/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Texas Longhorns Betting Preview

The Texas Longhorns recently played Mississippi State, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt. Texas has a chance to win two straight games for the first time since January 21-25.

The Texas Longhorns are averaging 78.2 points on 46.3 percent shooting and allowing 71.4 points on 42.5 percent shooting. Tre Johnson is averaging 20.2 points and 3.2 rebounds, while Arthur Kaluma is averaging 12.7 points and 7.8 rebounds. Jordan Pope is the third double-digit scorer and Tramon Mark is grabbing 3.8 rebounds. The Texas Longhorns are shooting 36.3 percent from beyond the arc and 74.6 percent from the free-throw line. The Texas Longhorns are allowing 33.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 33 rebounds per game.

Texas A&M Aggies Betting Preview

The Texas A&M Aggies recently played Florida, Auburn, and LSU. Texas A&M has seen four of its nine losses come in its last six games.

The Texas A&M Aggies are averaging 73.9 points on 41.9 percent shooting and allowing 67.1 points on 40.2 percent shooting. Wade Taylor IV is averaging 15.2 points and 3 rebounds, while Zhuric Phelps is averaging 14.3 points and 2.2 assists. Henry Coleman III is dishing 0.5 assists and Pharrel Payne is grabbing 5 rebounds. The Texas A&M Aggies are shooting 30.7 percent from beyond the arc and 69.6 percent from the free throw line. The Texas A&M Aggies are allowing 33.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 36.5 rebounds per game.

Texas A&M vs Texas Injury Report

Neither Texas A&M nor Texas have a player listed on its injury report.

Texas A&M vs Texas Prediction

Texas A&M is getting the benefit of the doubt because of the rest advantage, but this line feels a bit thick for a rivalry game. Texas A&M and Texas split the two games this season back in January, and the Longhorns are coming off an impressive road win over a feisty Vanderbilt squad. Texas A&M has seen losses in four of its last six games and has had issues getting stops in those games.

It has been a disappointing season for Texas, but we’ve seen flashes here and there. The Longhorns can put together strong performances when motivated. It’s do or die in a spot like this for Texas. I’ll take a shot with the points against a Texas A&M squad that’s not in great form entering the tournament.

Read the rest of "Texas A&M vs Texas Prediction 3/13/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Matchup History

Vanderbilt won the lone regular season meeting between these two teams at home back on February 8^th, 2025, by a final score of 86-78.

Texas Recap

The Texas Longhorns come into the conference tournament as the 13-seed, finishing the year with an overall record of 17-14 on the year and 6-12 in SEC conference play.

Longhorns Looking To Spring Some Upsets To Get Off Of Bubble

Tre Johnson leads the Longhorns in scoring with 20.2 PPG along with 3.2 RPG and 2.8 APG while Arthur Kaluma has 12.7 PPG with a team-high 7.8 RPG to lead the Longhorns in rebounding and Jordan Pope has 11 PPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Texas so far this season. Tramon Mark has 9.9 PPG with 3.8 RPG and Kadin Shedrick has 8.4 PPG with 6.2 RPG as well this year. Julian Larry is also contributing 5 PPG with a team-high 3.3 APG to lead the Longhorns in the assist department up to this point in the year. As a team, Texas is averaging 78.1 PPG on 46.3% shooting from the field, 36.3% from three and 74.6% from the foul line this season.

Why the Texas Longhorns will win

• Texas has won 21 of its last 22 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Vanderbilt has lost each of its last five Conference Tournament day games.

Vanderbilt Recap

The Vanderbilt Commodores come into the conference tournament as the 12-seed, finishing the season with an overall record of 20-11 with an SEC conference mark of 8-10.

Commodores Looking To Strengthen NCAA Tournament Resume

Jason Edwards leads the Commodores in scoring with 17.2 PPG while Devin McGlockton has 10.5 PPG with a team-high 8 RPG to lead the Commodores on the glass. AJ Hoggard has 10 PPG with 2.6 RPG and a team-high 4.6 APG to lead the Commodores in assists, while Tyler Nickel also has 10.3 PPG as well on the year rounding out the group of double-digit scorers for Vanderbilt so far this season. MJ Collins Jr. has chipped in 7.9 PPG and Jaylen Carey has 8.4 PPG with 5.9 RPG as well this season. As a team, Vanderbilt is averaging 80.4 PPG on 45.7% shooting from the field, 32.8% from three and 74.8% from the foul line this season.

Why the Vanderbilt Commodores will win

• Texas has lost each of its last six games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Vanderbilt has won 14 of its last 18 day games.

Total Points Facts

• Seven of Texas’ last eight games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 150+ points.
• Eleven of Vanderbilt’s last 13 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue have produced a total of 148 or fewer points.

Vanderbilt vs Texas Prediction

I’m on the Commodores here. I didn’t love how Texas closed out the regular season as Tre Johnson just flat out didn’t show up and that was almost a win and you’re in game against Oklahoma depending on how the tournament shakes out. Texas just isn’t a good basketball team as far as I’m concerned, and not only do I feel that Vanderbilt is the better team here. I think that the Commodores have the edge with the SEC tournament being in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena. This makes this a defacto home game for the Commodores. I just like what coach Byington has done with Vandy and I think the Commodores get the win and cover at home here. Give me Vanderbilt.

Read the rest of "Vanderbilt vs Texas Prediction 3/12/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Texas Needs This Win

Texas, in the last game, was able to knock off Mississippi State, and they know that the pressure is on now to pick up another key win. On Thursday against the Bulldogs, it took overtime, but they were able to secure the 87-82 triumph. Texas shot 48.4 percent from the field and 47.8 percent from behind the three-point line. If they can continue to shoot the lights out, this could be quite the special season. Tramon Mark had quite the game, putting up 24 points and four rebounds. Tre Johnson also couldn’t be stopped putting up 23 points, four assists, and three rebounds.

Texas sits with a 17-13 record overall, and they have gone 14-15-1 against the spread. Texas is averaging 78.3 points per game, while the defense is giving up 71.2 points per game. At times this season, closing out games has been an issue, and it needs to be quickly cleaned up here.  If the defense struggles, it will allow Oklahoma to stick in the game. 

Oklahoma on the Road?

If Oklahoma had won a few more games on the road, there would be a lot more talk about this team, but they haven’t, and now the season could be almost over. Oklahoma faced off against Ole Miss in the last game, and they scored 84 points, but the defense gave up 87 points. Two games ago, against Missouri, Oklahoma scored 96 points on the way to a comfortable victory. 

Oklahoma sits with an 18-12 record overall, and they have gone 15-15 against the spread. Away from home this season, they have gone only 1-7, which must be a major concern for them here. Oklahoma is averaging 78.7 points, while their defense is giving up 74.6 points. They like to push the pace, but they don’t have a whole lot of interest in playing any sort of defense. Sam Godwin is dealing with a knee injury, and it’s unclear if he’s going to be able to play in this game. Jalon Moore has been the top player, averaging 16.4 points while shooting 18.4 percent from the field. 

Texas vs Oklahoma Prediction

There are better games on the board that have even more value, but I still like the value with the underdog here. The one thing we know about this Texas team is they don’t try that hard on the defensive end. Oklahoma on the season is averaging 78.7 points and they are going to end up cruising here. Oklahoma might not end up winning the game, but it’s going to come down to the final basket. Texas is 0-4-1 against the spread in their last five home games. Back Oklahoma to cover the spread. 

Read the rest of "Texas vs Oklahoma Prediction 3/8/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Matchup History

These two teams have not met yet this season, and the last meeting between these two teams was back in 2012.

Texas Recap

The Texas Longhorns come into this game looking to bounce back from an 87-63 loss to Georgia last time out to slip to 16-13 on the year. After this game, Texas will head home to finish the regular season at home against Oklahoma.

Longhorns Lose Third Straight At Worst Time

Tre Johnson leads the Longhorns in scoring with 20.6 PPG along with 3.1 RPG and 2.6 APG while Arthur Kaluma has 12.8 PPG with a team-high 7.9 RPG to lead the Longhorns in rebounding. And Jordan Pope has 10.7 PPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Texas so far this season. Tramon Mark has 9.3 PPG with 3.6 RPG and Kadin Shedrick has 8.4 PPG with 6.1 RPG as well this year. Julian Larry is also contributing 5 PPG with a team-high 3.3 APG to lead the Longhorns in the assist department up to this point in the year. As a team, Texas is averaging 78 PPG on 46.5% shooting from the field, 35.8% from three, and 75% from the foul line this season.

Why the Texas Longhorns will win

• Mississippi State has lost four of its last five night games against the Southeastern Conference at Humphrey Coliseum.
• Texas has won four of its last five road games following a home loss.

Mississippi State Recap

The Mississippi State Bulldogs come into this game looking to add on to their 81-69 win over LSU last time out to sit at 20-9 on the year. After this game, Mississippi State will head on the road to close out the regular season against Arkansas.

Bulldogs Looking To Keep Momentum Going

Josh Hubbard leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 18.4 PPG and 3.3 APG while Claudell Harris Jr. has 10 PPG. KeShawn Murphy has 11.6 PPG with 7.6 RPG to lead the Bulldogs in rebounding up to this point in the year and to round out the group of double-digit scorers for Mississippi State up to this point in the year. Riley Kugel has 9.3 PPG with 2.9 RPG and RJ Melendez also has 8.6 PPG with 4.3 RPG while Cameron Matthews has 7.1 PPG with 6.8 RPG and a team-high 3.7 APG to lead the Bulldogs in assists. As a team, Mississippi State is averaging 79.1 PPG on 45.4% shooting from the field, 31.2% from three, and 69.5% from the foul line this season.

Why the Mississippi State Bulldogs will win

• Mississippi State has won each of its last 11 games at Humphrey Coliseum against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Texas has lost six of its last seven games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Mississippi State’s last four home games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 150 or fewer points.
• Five of Texas’ last six games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 153+ points.

Texas vs. Mississippi State Prediction

I’m with Mississippi State here. I get the case to be made for Texas as we’re almost at the point of no return for the Longhorns here. They are in dire need of a win to strengthen their resume in the eyes of the NCAA tournament committee. That being said, I’m personally done with Texas as this team has done nothing but disappoint and I think they’re simply overrated and overvalued at this point. Give me Mississippi State here.

Read the rest of "Mississippi State vs Texas Prediction 3/4/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Matchup History

These two teams have not met yet this season, and have not met since the 2019 season where Georgia won by a final score of 98-88 at home.

Georgia Recap

The Georgia Bulldogs come into this game looking to build on their 88-83 win over Florida last time out to improve to 17-11 on the year. After this game, Georgia will head on the road for a game against South Carolina.

Bulldogs Get Huge Win For Tournament Resume

Asa Newell leads the Bulldogs in scoring and rebounding with 15.4 PPG and 6.8 RPG while Silas Demary Jr. has 12.5 PPG with 3.9 RPG and a team-high 3.2 APG as the only other double-digit scorer for Georgia so far this season. Dakota Leffew has 9.8 PPG while Tyrin Lawrence has 8.6 PPG with 3.1 RPG and 2.5 APG of his own. Blue Cain also has 9.2 PPG with 4 RPG as well this season. As a team, Georgia is averaging 75.3 PPG on 46.2% shooting from the field, 33.1% from behind the arc and 71.8% from the foul line so far this season.

Why the Georgia Bulldogs will win

• Georgia has won 13 of its last 14 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Texas has lost each of its last four games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Texas Recap

The Texas Longhorns come into this game looking to bounce back from an 86-81 loss at the hands of Arkansas last time out to sit at 16-12 on the year. After this game, Texas will head on the road for a game against Mississippi State.

Longhorns Lose 5 Of Last 6

Tre Johnson leads the Longhorns in scoring with 20.9 PPG along with 3.1 RPG and 2.6 APG while Arthur Kaluma has 12.7 PPG with a team-high 7.9 RPG to lead the Longhorns in rebounding and Jordan Pope has 10.7 PPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Texas so far this season. Tramon Mark has 9.3 PPG with 3.6 RPG and Kadin Shedrick has 8.5 PPG with 6.3 RPG as well this year. Julian Larry is also contributing 5.1 PPG with a team-high 3.5 APG to lead the Longhorns in the assist department up to this point in the year. As a team, Texas is averaging 78.4 PPG on 46.5% shooting from the field, 35.9% from three and 75.3% from the foul line this season.

Why the Texas Longhorns will win

• Texas has won each of its last 11 night games after coming off overtime.
• Georgia has lost each of its last seven road games.

Georgia vs. Texas Prediction

I’m on Texas here. I get the allure of backing Georgia after the Florida win as the Bulldogs looked good after the fact, but this is setting up for a letdown spot after such a big win, the Georgia Bulldogs allowed Florida to climb all the way back in that game despite holding a huge lead almost the entire way, and Texas is in dire need of big wins to bolster their NCAA tournament resume. I think that Texas gets the bounce back win at home and I think the Bulldogs suffer the dreaded letdown effort here. Give me Texas.

Read the rest of "Texas vs Georgia Prediction 3/1/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Texas Longhorns Betting Preview

The Longhorns came into January with a pretty nice record, but they’ve had some difficulties amid some tough matchups since then. Texas kicked off with an 11-2 run, taking wins over Houston Christian, Chicago State, MS Valley State, Syracuse, Saint Joseph’s, Delaware State, NC State, New Mexico State, AR-Pine Bluff, New Orleans and Northwestern State. The Longhorns would lose their next three versus Texas A&M, Auburn, and Tennessee ahead of a 4-2 run that featured wins over Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas A&M, and LSU. Since then it’s been a 1-4 run for Texas. The lone win came over Kentucky. Otherwise, it was losses to Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Alabama, and South Carolina at that time. That gives the Longhorns a 16-11 overall run through their first 27 games of the 2024-25 campaign.

In their last matchup on Saturday versus South Carolina, the Longhorns were blitzed in the first half 40-22. Texas came back better after the break on a 47-44 run but still lost pretty handily 84-69. The team’s only double-digit scorer was Tre Johnson with 29 points, three rebounds, and one assist. Both Jayson Kent (three rebounds) and Kadin Shedrick (nine rebounds; five blocks) chipped in with eight points each. Tops off the bench in the losing effort was Arthur Kaluma with nine points, four rebounds, and one turnover in 20 minutes of work out there.

Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Preview

Over on the Arkansas side, they’ve had a similar trajectory in the win column this year. The Razorbacks started out very well on an 11-2 overall run featuring wins over Lipscomb, Troy, Pacific, Little Rock, MD Eastern Shore, Miami, UTSA, Michigan, Central Arkansas, North Carolina A&T, and Oakland. Losses to Tennessee, Ole Miss, Florida, LSU, and Missouri came next, and since then it’s been a 5-4 run for the Razorbacks. The losses in that time came versus Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas A&M, and Auburn. Otherwise, it’s been wins over Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, LSU, and Missouri, giving Arkansas a 16-11 overall record through 27 games.

Matched up against Missouri back on Saturday, the Razorbacks came out of the locker room with a 48-41 deficit. Arkansas stormed through a 51-37 advantage in the second half though and posted the comeback victory 92-85 in the end. Tops in scoring was Zvonimir Ivisic with 20 options, four rebounds, three turnovers, two steals, and two blocks. Johnell Davis added 18 points with four assists and four steals, while DJ Wagner had 17 points with three assists and a pair of steals. Karter Knox put up 14 points with two rebounds in 36 minutes as well.

Why the Arkansas Razorbacks will win

• Arkansas has won 11 of its last 12 games at Bud Walton Arena against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Texas has lost four of its last five games.
• Texas has lost the first half in each of its last four night games against the Southeastern Conference.

Why the Texas Longhorns will win

• Texas has won nine of its last 11 night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Arkansas has lost each of its last three games following a home win.
• Arkansas has lost the first half in each of its last six games at Bud Walton Arena.

Arkansas vs Texas Prediction

I’m probably just going to stay with Arkansas here, but this should be a great matchup regardless. The Razorbacks played a solid game overall in their win versus Missouri, but there’s plenty to improve upon. Arkansas shot a nice 54.7 percent from the field in that one but also lost the rebounding battle 35-28 and coughed up 16 turnovers for 14 Tigers points. The good news is that Missouri was also very sloppy with the ball on 18 turnovers, which resulted in 30 points for the Razorbacks on the other side. The 92 points were a nice touch as well after just 121 combined in the previous pair (both losses.

Arkansas managed to power out a 78-70 road victory the last time these teams met up back on February 5. The Razorbacks lost the rebounding battle in that one as well (41-36) but also shot 44 percent from the field while holding Texas to just 34.4 percent. Arkansas is going to have to shoot well again—and be careful with the ball—in this home rematch.

Read the rest of "Arkansas vs Texas Prediction 2/26/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Preview

The South Carolina Gamecocks are 10-16 (0-13) this year after they lost to LSU by a score of 81-67 in their last game. South Carolina trailed 41-27 at halftime, but they did score 40 points in the second half in the loss. The Gamecocks shot 47.1% from the field, 36.8% on three pointers, and 80% on free throws in the game. Jamarii Thomas led South Carolina with 23 points and five rebounds, while Collin Murray-Boyles added 16 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. 

Prior to that game, the Gamecocks lost to Florida by a score of 88-67 and Ole Miss by a score of 72-68. South Carolina has lost 13 games in a row and they are currently last in the SEC standings with an 0-13 record. South Carolina has scored 69.6 points per game and they have allowed 70.9 points against per game, while also averaging 35 rebounds and 12.8 assists per game this season. Collin Murray-Boyles is averaging 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, while Jamarii Thomas is averaging 13.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game this year. South Carolina is shooting 43.2% from the field, 69.8% on free throws, and 32.4% on three pointers this season. 

Texas Longhorns Betting Preview

The Texas Longhorns are 16-10 (5-8) this season after they defeated Kentucky by a score of 82-78 in their last game. Texas trailed 41-37 at halftime, but they scored 45 points in the second half for the comeback win. The Longhorns shot 45.3% from the field, 21.7% on three pointers, and 82.6% on free throws in the game. Tre Johnson led Texas with 32 points and nine rebounds, while Tramon Mark added 26 points and two assists in the win. 

Prior to that game, the Longhorns lost to Alabama by a score of 103-80 and Vanderbilt by a score of 86-78. Texas has lost three of their last four games and they are currently tied for 10th in the SEC standings with a 5-8 record. Texas has scored 78.7 points per game and they have allowed 69.3 points against per game, while also averaging 35.7 rebounds and 13.5 assists per game this season. Tre Johnson is averaging 19.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, while Jordan Pope is averaging 11.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game this year. Texas is shooting 47% from the field, 75.4% on free throws, and 36.1% on three pointers this season. 

Why Texas will beat South Carolina

• South Carolina has lost each of its last 14 games against the Southeastern Conference.
• Texas has won 11 of its last 12 games when playing with a rest advantage.
• Texas has won the first half in 14 of its last 15 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

South Carolina vs Texas Prediction 

South Carolina comes into this contest looking for their first conference win of the season and they will be at home for this game. The Gamecocks have lost 13 games in a row and they are shooting just 43.2% from the field this year. South Carolina hasn’t been terrible on offense, but they have allowed 76+ points in four of their last five games. Texas is coming off of a huge win against Kentucky in their last game, but they have lost three of their last four road games. The Longhorns are shooting 47% from the field this year, but they have allowed at least 78 points in four straight games. I don’t like either defense in this matchup, but I trust Texas’ scoring ability much more than South Carolina’s. Take the Longhorns here. 

Read the rest of "South Carolina vs Texas Prediction 2/22/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Texas Longhorns vs. Kentucky Wildcats game let’s review the rules for FanDuel single game showdown contest.

FanDuel Single Game Contest Rules

Here are the single game contest rules. You have $60,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team MVP. The MVP accumulates 2x times the standard FanDuel fantasy points value.

The remaining four players in your lineup will be the star, pro, and flex plays. The star player will receive 1.5x the standard fantasy points value. The pro player will accumulate 1.2x the standard fantasy points value.

The final two flex positions will receive the standard points value. Having stated that, it is important for you to identify the correct player for your MVP position if you hope to win a FanDuel single game contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game contest, I highly recommend that you check out the FanDuel website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my FanDuel picks for tonight’s Kentucky Wildcats vs. Texas Longhorns matchup.

FanDuel NCAA Basketball DFS Picks

MVP-Otega Oweh, Guard, Kentucky Wildcats $11,000

Junior guard Otega Oweh has certainly been a standout performer for the Kentucky Wildcats this season. With that said, how has the talented young guard performed from a statistical perspective? Let’s examine Oweh’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 24 games that guard Otega Oweh has played for the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Oweh is averaging 16.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 23 games that Otega Oweh has played for the Kentucky Wildcats this season, Oweh has compiled a 49.1% field goal percentage, a 34.5% three-point percentage and a free throw percentage of 76.6%.

Last month, in the Vanderbilt Commodores 74-69 win over the Kentucky Wildcats, Kentucky guard Otega Oweh played exceptionally well. More specifically, Oweh compiled 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and one steal in the Commodores victory over the Kentucky Wildcats.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Vanderbilt Commodores win over the Kentucky Wildcats just mentioned, Otega Oweh accumulated a robust 37.9 FanDuel points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the MVP position for a FanDuel NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game DFS contest.

In my view, Otega Oweh is the most likely player to post the most FanDuel points in this NBA regular season game. For that specific reason, I am rolling with Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh at the MVP position for this one game FanDuel NCAA Showdown contest.

Star-Tre Johnson, Guard, Texas Longhorns $12,000

Freshman guard Tre Johnson has certainly been a key contributor to the Texas Longhorns starting lineup this season.

In the 23 games that guard Tre Johnson has played for the Texas Longhorns in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Johnson is averaging a rather impressive 27.5 FanDuel points a game.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (FanDuel price noted): Kadin Shedrick, Forward (Texas Longhorns) $9,500: Amari Williams, Forward (Kentucky Wildcats) $10,500.

Read the rest of "FanDuel NCAA Basketball Picks: Kentucky vs. Texas 2/15/25" at Sports Chat Place

Kentucky Look for Third Straight Win

Kentucky is playing well heading into this game and they have won two straight games. Two games ago against South Carolina, they won 80-57, and in the last game against Tennessee, they were able to secure the 75-64 victory. Kentucky had a huge game, shooting 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the three point line. Otega Oweh had a strong game putting up 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Ansley Almonor also put up 13 points. Kentucky’s defense was also impressive, and they are going to need the defense to step up again here. 

Kentucky comes into this game with a 17-7 record and they have gone 12-11-1 against the spread. Kentucky is averaging 86.3 points while their defense is giving up 76 points per game. The offense is ranked 3rd in the league while the defense is ranked 299th. Kentucky wants to push the pace, and they are going to try and get the speed up in this one. Otega Oweh has been the top player for this team averaging 15.9 points while shooting 49.1 percent from the field. 

Why Kentucky Will Beat Texas

Texas has lost 12 of its last 14 games against AP-ranked opponents.

The road team has won the first half in nine of Texas’ last 11 games.

Texas is Struggling

Texas is struggling heading into this game and they have lost three straight games. Two games ago against Vanderbilt they lost 86-78 and in the last game against Alabama they lost 103-80. Texas did shoot 42 percent from the field but they allowed Alabama to shoot 61.8 percent from the field. If they want any chance in this game, the defense is going to need to find a way to step up. Tre Johnson did have a strong game for Texas, putting up 24 points, four assists, and three rebounds.

Texas overall sits with a 15–10 record overall and they have gone 13-10-1 against the spread. At home this season they have gone 10-5 straight up. Texas is currently averaging 78.6 points while their defense is giving up 68.9 points per game. The offense is ranked 76th in the league while the defense is ranked 90th. Tre Johnson is averaging 19.3 points while shooting 43.9 percent from the field. 

Texas vs Kentucky Prediction

Remember what Texas just let Alabama do to them? It’s going to be much of the same here. Texas allowed Alabama to shoot 61.8 percent from the field and their defense is going to be a major issue again here. Kentucky is averaging 86.3 points per game, and they are going to have no issue with their shooting here. Texas is going to have no answer, and Kentucky will end up cruising here. Back Kentucky against the spread. 

Read the rest of "Texas vs Kentucky Prediction 2/15/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Texas Longhorns game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for tonight’s Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Texas Longhorns matchup.

Draftkings NCAA College Basketball Showdown Picks

Captain-Mark Sears, Guard, Alabama Crimson Tide $9,600

Senior guard Mark Sears has certainly been a standout performer for the Alabama Crimson Tide this season. To better understand the importance of the talented guard’s contributions to the Alabama basketball team’s achievements this season let’s review Sears game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season.

In the 23 games that guard Mark Sears has played for the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Sears is averaging a robust 17.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 23 games that Mark Sears has played for the Alabama Crimson Tide this season, Sears has compiled a 40.4% field goal percentage, a 35.6 three-point percentage and a free throw percentage of 83.1%.

More recently, in the Alabama Crimson Tide’s convincing 90-69 win over the Georgia Bulldogs ten days ago, Alabama guard Mark Sears played exceptionally well. Let me be more specific. Sears amassed 20 points, five rebounds, six assists and one steal in the Crimson Tide’s victory over the Georgia Bulldogs.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Alabama Crimson Tide’s win over the Georgia Bulldogs just mentioned, Mark Sears tallied 42.1 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game Draftkings slate.

In my opinion, Mark Sears is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this evening’s NCAA regular season game. With that said, I am rolling with Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Tre Johnson, Guard, Texas Longhorns $10,200

Freshman guard Tre Johnson has certainly been a key contributor to the Texas Longhorns starting lineup this season.

In the 24 games that guard Tre Johnson has played for the Texas Longhorns in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Johnson is averaging a rather impressive 29.5 Draftkings points a game.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Clifford Omoruyi, Forward (Alabama Crimson Tide) $11,000: Jordan Pope, Guard (Texas Longhorns) $5,000.

Read the rest of "Draftkings NCAA Basketball Picks: Alabama vs. Texas 2/11/25" at Sports Chat Place

Texas Longhorns Betting Preview

The Texas Longhorns are 15-9 (4-7) this year after they lost to Vanderbilt by a score of 86-78 in their last game. Texas led 39-35 at halftime, but they allowed 51 points in the second half in the loss. The Longhorns shot 41.7% from the field, 36% on three-pointers, and 70.4% on free throws in the game. Tre Johnson led Texas with 15 points and five rebounds, while Arthur Kaluma added 12 points and seven rebounds in the loss.

Prior to that game, the Longhorns lost to Arkansas by a score of 78-70 but did beat LSU by a score of 89-58 before that. Texas has lost three of their last four games and they are currently near the bottom of the SEC standings with a 4-7 record. Texas has scored 78.5 points per game and they have allowed 67.5 points per game, while also averaging 35.9 rebounds and 13.6 assists per game this season. Tre Johnson is averaging 19.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, while Arthur Kaluma is averaging 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game this year. Texas is shooting 47.3% from the field, 75.1% on free throws, and 36.7% on three-pointers this season. 

Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Preview

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 20-3 (9-1) this season after they defeated Arkansas by a score of 85-81 in their last game. Alabama led 40-34 at halftime but did allow 47 points in the second half in the win. The Crimson Tide shot 54.8% from the field, 26.3% on three-pointers, and 66.7% on free throws in the game. Grant Nelson led Alabama with 15 points and four rebounds, while Chris Youngblood added 15 points and three rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Crimson Tide defeated Georgia by a score of 90-69 and Mississippi State by a score of 88-84. Alabama has won six games in a row and they are currently tied for first in the SEC standings with a 9-1 record. Alabama has scored 90 points per game and they have allowed 78.4 points per game, while also averaging 44.3 rebounds and 17.0 assists per game this season. Mark Sears is averaging 17.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, while Grant Nelson is averaging 12.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game this year. Alabama is shooting 47.9% from the field, 70.7% on free throws, and 33.4% on three-pointers this season. 

Why Alabama will beat Texas

• Alabama has won each of its last nine games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Texas has lost each of its last seven games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Texas has lost the first half in each of its last seven games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Twenty-two of Texas’ last 23 night games at Moody Center have produced a total of 164 or fewer points.
• Nine of Alabama’s last 10 road games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 166+ points.

Texas vs Alabama Prediction 

Alabama comes into this matchup ranked #2 in the country and they have won six games in a row, but they will be on the road for this game. The Crimson Tide have scored 90 points per game this year and they have been one of the best offensive teams in the country. Alabama has had some close calls on the road in recent weeks, as they have won by five points or fewer in each of their last three road games. Texas has dropped three of their last four games and they have allowed 86 and 78 in their last two. The Longhorns are just 4-7 in conference play this year and I don’t think they have the offense to hang with a team like Alabama. Take the Crimson Tide here. 

Read the rest of "Texas vs Alabama Prediction 2/11/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Texas Longhorns Betting Preview

The Longhorns have been a pretty consistent team overall this year, but they do have a rough run in early January in the books. Texas kicked off with a loss to Ohio State in the opener, then beat Houston Christian, Chicago State, MS Valley State, Syracuse, Saint Joseph’s, Delaware State and NC State in the next seven outings. The Longhorns would lose to UConn before four more wins over New Mexico State, AR-Pine Bluff, New Orleans and Northwestern State. A 1-4 run came next with a lone win over Oklahoma among losses to Texas A&M, Auburn, Tennessee and Florida. Since then Texas is 3-2 with losses to Ole Miss and Arkansas among wins versus Missouri, Texas A&M and Arkansas, giving the Longhorns a 15-8 overall record though their first 23 games of the 2024-25 season so far.

In the Arkansas game on Wednesday, the Longhorns were down by 11 points going into the second half. Texas came back on a 46-43 run but it wasn’t enough to make the comeback in a 78-70 defeat. Leading team scorer Tre Johnson put up 25 points with four assists, five rebounds and two steals. Arthur Kaluma added 12 points with 13 boards for a double-double, and Kadin Shedrick chipped in 10 points with eight boards. Julian Larry was the leading bench contributor with 11 points and three assists in 28 minutes of work on the floor.

Vanderbilt Commodores Betting Preview

Over on the Commodores’ side, they were looking great as the calendar flipped over to 2025, however since then it’s been a choppy ride amid some very tough matchups. Vanderbilt won 13 of their first 14 games, falling to only Drake on November 24. Otherwise it was wins over MD Eastern Shore, Southeast Missouri State, California, Jackson State, Nevada, Seton Hall, Tennessee Tech, Virginia Tech, TCU, the Citadel, Austin Peay, New Orleans and LSU in that time. Since then it’s been a 3-5 stretch for the Commodores. The losses came versus Mississippi State, Missouri, Alabama, Oklahoma and Florida. Otherwise it was wins over South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky in that time. The result in the record column so far this year for the Commodores is a 16-6 run over 22 games.

On Tuesday in the Florida matchup the Commodores held a one-point lead in the locker room. Vanderbilt was blitzed the rest of the way 51-39 however, eventually limping to a loss 86-75 in the end. Jason Edwards put up 20 points with one assist in 31 minutes to lead the way in the losing effort. Devin McGlockton added 14 points with eight rebounds and one steal in 28 minutes. Tops off the bench was Jaylen Carey with 15 points, five rebounds and one assist with one steal and one block in 22 minutes out on the court.

Why the Vanderbilt Commodores will win

• Vanderbilt has won each of its last 10 games at Memorial Gymnasium against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Texas has lost each of its last three away games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• Vanderbilt has won the first half in each of its last nine games at Memorial Gymnasium against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Texas Longhorns will win

• Texas has won each of its last 21 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Vanderbilt has lost three of its last four games.
• Texas has won the first half in each of its last 13 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Vanderbilt vs Texas Prediction

I’ll stay with Vanderbilt. The Commodores were highly permissive against Florida in their last outing, and lost the handle in the second half. Vanderbilt gave up a whopping 57.4 percent shooting from the field in that one alongside a 35-29 rebounding deficit and 11 turnovers for 13 Gators points. The Commodores did shoot well themselves (50.8 percent) but it wasn’t enough to keep pace. Vanderbilt has given up 86 or more points in each of their last three losses, so they’re going to have to put the clamps down on defense Saturday.

As for Texas, they’ve been a mixed bag record-wise lately but they’re scoring pretty well with 69 or more points in four straight games. I like this one to be a fairly high total, but Vanderbilt needs to keep things manageable if they want to power out a cover.

Read the rest of "Vanderbilt vs Texas Prediction 2/8/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Arkansas Recap

The Arkansas Razorbacks come into this game looking to build on their 89-79 win over Kentucky last time out to improve to 13-8 on the year. Arkansas will play Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn, and Missouri next.

Razorbacks Looking For Consistency

Adou Thiero leads the Razorbacks in scoring and rebounding with 16.1 PPG and 6.2 RPG while Boogie Fland has 15.1 PPG with a team-high 5.7 APG to lead the Razorbacks in assists in addition to 3.4 RPG as well, but is expected to miss the remainder of the season because of injury. D.J. Wagner has 10.2 PPG with 3.2 RPG and 2.8 APG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Arkansas up to this point in the year. Johnell Davis has 8.9 PPG with 3.6 RPG and Zvonimir Ivisic has 7.4 PPG with 3.7 RPG as well. As a team, Arkansas is averaging 76.2 PPG on 46.4% shooting from the field, 32.5% from three, and 72.6% from the foul line this season.

Why the Arkansas Razorbacks will win

• Arkansas has won 10 of its last 12 night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Texas Recap

The Texas Longhorns come into this game looking to build on their 89-58 win over LSU last time out to improve to 15-7 on the year. After this game, Texas will head on the road for a game against Vanderbilt.

Longhorns Win 4 Of Last 6 Games

Tre Johnson leads the Longhorns in scoring with 19 PPG along with 2.7 RPG and 2.3 APG while Arthur Kaluma has 13.6 PPG with a team-high 8 RPG to lead the Longhorns in rebounding and Jordan Pope has 11.6 PPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Texas so far this season. Tramon Mark has 9.6 PPG with 3.5 RPG and Kadin Shedrick has 8.4 PPG with 6.2 RPG as well this year. Julian Larry is also contributing 5 PPG with a team-high 3.8 APG to lead the Longhorns in the assist department up to this point in the year. As a team, Texas is averaging 78.9 PPG on 48.2% shooting from the field, 37.2% from three, and 75.4% from the foul line this season.

Why the Texas Longhorns will win

• Texas has won each of its last 13 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Arkansas has lost seven of its last nine games against the Southeastern Conference.

Texas vs Arkansas Prediction

I’m with Texas here. I just have to fade Arkansas after the emotional outright win over Kentucky in coach Cal’s return to Rupp and how good the Hogs looked in that game, but let’s also not forget how bad they’ve been on the road for much of the season prior to that win. The Hogs are not a team I feel can keep up sustained success and I don’t look for it to carry over here. I think Texas bags the win and cover at home in this one so give me the Longhorns.

Read the rest of "Texas vs Arkansas Prediction 2/5/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

LSU Keeps Losing

LSU keeps losing and coming into this game they have lost three games in a row. Two games ago against Alabama they lost 80-73 and in the last game against Auburn they ended up losing 87-74. At halftime they were down 41-29 and they couldn’t bounce back in teh second half. Guard Cam Carter had a strong game putting up 24 points, six rebounds, and two assists. DJ Bailey also put up 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists. There were three different players that put up at least 11 points. The last win came back on January 14th and they were able to secure the 78-74.

LSU is averaging 79 points while their defense is giving up 71 points per game. The offense is ranked 74th in the league while the defense is ranked 171st. The offensive rating is 109.9 which is 132nd in the league while the defensive rating is 98.7 which is 74th in the league. Guard Cam Carter has been the top player all season for this team, and he’s averaging 17.9 points while shooting 45 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from behind the three-point line. Jordan Sears is also having a strong season and he’s averaging 14 points per game. 

Why LSU Will Cover Against Texas

The home team has won each of Texas’ last four games.

Texas has lost each of its last three road day games against Conference opponents.

LSU has won the first half in three of its last four day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Texas Has Been Inconsistent

Texas has been inconsistent and that has been one of the biggest issues for this team. Two games ago against Texas A&M they lost 70-69 and in the last game against Ole Miss they ended up losing 72-69. At halftime against Ole Miss they were up 38-34 but in the second half they didn’t play well enough and that led to the three point defeat. Guard Tre Johnson has put up 22 points, three assists, and two rebounds. Texas shot 40.6 percent from the field and 22.7 percent from behind the three point line. 

Texas is averaging 78.4 points while their defense is giving up 66.6 points per game. The offense is ranked 86h in the league while the defense is ranked 51st in the league. The offensive rating is 116, which is 39th in the league, while the defensive rating is 98.4, which is 66th in the league. Tre Johnson is averaging 19 points while shooting 44 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from behind the three point line. 

LSU vs Texas Prediction

Texas is averaging 78.4 points per game but I believe they are going to play down to the LSU team. LSU is averaging 79 points per game and they are going to find success here. LSU’s defense is giving up 71 points and although the defense might not dominate here, it’s going to be the offense that is going to run up the score here. Texas won’t have any answer. Back LSU against the spread. 

Read the rest of "LSU vs Texas Prediction 2/1/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

What a Comeback for Texas

Texas in the last game faced off against the Texas A&M Aggies and they were able to pick up the big victory. At halftime, they were down 43-25 and they looked to be out of it. In the second half though they made the big comeback though and they ended up winning 70-69. Guard Tre Johnson put up 30 points, four assists, and one rebound. There were three different players that put up at least nine points. 

Texas comes into this game with a 14-6 record overall and they have gone 11-8-1 against the spread. Texas is averaging 78.9 points while their defense is giving up 66.3 points per game. The offense is ranked 78th in the league while the defense is ranked 51st in the league. Tre Johnson has been the top player averaging 18.8 points while shooting 45 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from behind the three-point line. Texas will face LSU following this one

Why Texas Will Beat Ole Miss

• Ole Miss has lost each of its last three games against the Southeastern Conference.
• Texas has won three of its last four games.

Ole Miss Has Lost Three Straight Games

Ole Miss is suddenly struggling all of a sudden and they have lost three straight games. Two games ago against Texas A&M they were competitive but still ended up losing 63-62. In the last game against Missouri, they couldn’t keep it close and they ended up losing 85-73. At halftime, they were down 38-31 and they couldn’t fight back. In this game, they can’t get out to a slow start again. 

Ole Miss comes into this game with a 15-5 record overall and they have gone 13-7 against the spread. Ole Miss is averaging 77.8 points while their defense is giving up 66.4 points per game. Sean Pedulla has been the top player putting up 14.3 points per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from behind the three-point line. There were five different players that put up at least 10 points. In this game, the defense is going to need to be a whole lot better. Ole Miss will take on Auburn, Kentucky, LSU, South Carolina, and Mississippi State after this game. 

Ole Miss vs Texas Prediction

Give me Texas here, although I don’t think they are going to win this game. Texas is a strong offensive team overall this season averaging 78.9 points per game and they are going to have no issue running up the score here. Ole Miss probably has the offense to win this game, but this is too many points for them to lay. It’s going to come down to the final seconds. Back Texas against the spread. 

Read the rest of "Ole Miss vs Texas Prediction 1/29/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Missouri Tigers Betting Preview

The Missouri Tigers beat Florida and Arkansas, and they play Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Tennessee next. The Missouri Tigers are averaging 84.8 points on 49.2 percent shooting and allowing 69.1 points on 42.2 percent shooting. Mark Mitchell is averaging 13.8 points and 4.9 rebounds, while Tamar Bates is averaging 12.9 points and 1.3 assists. Caleb Grill is the third double-digit scorer and Anthony Robinson II is dishing 3.6 assists. The Missouri Tigers are shooting 37.9 percent from beyond the arc and 71.9 percent from the free throw line. The Missouri Tigers are allowing 34.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 31.9 rebounds per game.

Texas Longhorns Betting Preview

The Texas Longhorns beat Oklahoma, lost to Florida, and they play Texas A&M, Ole Miss,  LSU, Arkansas, and Vanderbilt next. The Texas Longhorns are averaging 80.4 points on 49 percent shooting and allowing 66.9 points on 41.6 percent shooting. Tre Johnson is averaging 18.6 points and 2.7 rebounds, while Arthur Kaluma is averaging 13.8 points and 7.9 rebounds. Jordan Pope is the third double-digit scorer and Tramon Mark is grabbing 3.5 rebounds. The Texas Longhorns are shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc and 74.6 percent from the free-throw line. The Texas Longhorns are allowing 32.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.6 rebounds per game.

Texas vs Missouri Injury Report

Missouri will continue to be without Trent Burns due to a foot injury. Texas will be without Chendall Weaver due to a hip injury. Arthur Kaluma is probable.

Texas vs Missouri Prediction

The Texas Longhorns are getting the benefit of the doubt because they’re at home, but they’ve lost four of their last five games and the defense is heading in the wrong direction. Texas has allowed 80 or more points in three of its last five contests, which is a far cry from their season average of 66.9 points. The Missouri Tigers are 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games, which includes a road upset over Florida as a double-digit underdog. Missouri also has the offensive horses to expose this Texas defense if it doesn’t get its act together. Missouri has topped 80 points in six of its last nine games. Give me Missouri and the free bucket on the road.

Read the rest of "Texas vs Missouri Prediction 1/21/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Texas Longhorns Betting Preview

The Longhorns have been pretty darn consistent for most of the 2024-25 season, though it’s worth noting that they’ve run into some trouble during some very difficult matchups lately. Texas opened with a loss to Ohio State, then took out Houston Christian, Chicago State, MS Valley State, Syracuse, Saint Joseph’s, Delaware State and NC State in the next seven games. Another loss to UConn came in early December, followed by wins over new Mexico State, AR-Pine Bluff, New Orleans and Northwestern State. Following losses to Texas A&M, Auburn and Tennessee in the next trio of outings, the Longhorns finally stopped the bleeding with a win over Oklahoma, giving them a 12-5 overall record through 17 games so far this year.

In the Oklahoma matchup, the Longhorns jumped out to a comfortable lead 43-27 by halftime. Texas had to scramble a bit in the second half on a 46-34 deficit, but still came out on top 77-73 by game’s end. Jordan Pope led the team in scoring with his 27 points, two rebounds and four steals. Tre Johnson added 16 points with four rebounds and three steals, while Tramon Mark put up 15 points with three boards, one assist and one steal. Ze’Rik Onyema scored the lone bench point with one rebound in there minutes on the court.

Florida Gators Betting Preview

Over on the Florida side, they’ve been an incredibly consistent team themselves so far this year. The Gators have only recently run into a bit of trouble in the win column. Florida kicked off the season on a stellar 13-game win streak. Those victories came courtesy of South Florida, Jacksonville, Grambling, Florida State, Florida A&M, Southern Illinois, Wake Forest, Wichita State, Virginia, Arizona State, North Carolina, North Florida and Stetson in succession. Since then however, it’s been a 2-2 run over the last quartet of outings. Florida has wins over Tennessee and Arkansas in that time, sandwiched between losses to Kentucky and Missouri for a 15-2 overall run through the first 17 games of the 2024-25 season.

Matched up against Missouri in the Tuesday game, Florida was hit over the head in the first half with a 50-34 deficit. The Gators fought back and made a game of it on a 48-33 second, but eventually lost a tough one 83-82 in the end. Walter Clayton topped the team in the losing effort with 28 points, five boards and three steals. Will Richard added 12 points with three rebounds and one steal, while Rueben Chinyelu doubled up on 11 points, 10 boards, two blocks and one assist. Tops off the bench was Thomas Haugh with seven points and five boards.

Why the Florida Gators will win

• Texas has lost each of its last nine games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Florida has won 19 of its last 20 games at Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Florida has won the first half in each of its last nine day games at Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

Why the Texas Longhorns will win

• Texas has won 25 of its last 27 games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• The road team has won the first half in each of Texas’ last three games.

Florida vs Texas Prediction

I’ll just stay with Florida here. The Gators need a good bounce-back effort here and a convincing win following their spotty loss to a pretty good Missouri team in their last game. Florida shot well in that one (48.1 percent) but also missed 10 of 31 free throws (67.7 percent) and had 13 turnovers for 18 Tigers points. In short, it was a very winnable game that Florida gave away statistically. The good news is that the Gators continue to score well. They’ve hit 71 or more points in all 17 games so far this season and should be able to continue that trend against Texas.

Speaking of the Longhorns, they played pretty well against a good Oklahoma team in their last win—despite 15 turnovers for 17 Sooners points. Texas is scoring well themselves this year with 70 or more points in seven of the last eight games (a 5-3 run). In a tough road matchup against an angry Florida team however, I don’t think Texas will quite keep the pace.

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