Upcoming Match-ups

Oklahoma vs Texas Odds, Lines, and Spread

Blair Johnson

by Blair Johnson in College Basketball

Updated Jan 25, 2021 · 5:53 PM PST

Greg Brown excited reaction on the court
Texas forward Greg Brown (4) during an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
  • The Texas Longhorns (11-2, 5-1 Big 12) host the Oklahoma Sooners (9-4, 5-3 Big 12) Tuesday, Jan. 26
  • Texas hasn’t played since Jan. 16 due to a pair of postponements while Oklahoma is coming off a 75-68 victory over Kansas
  • Read below for odds, analysis, and our best bet for this matchup

The Texas Longhorns (11-2, 5-1 Big 12), who haven’t played since knocking off Kansas State 82-67 at home Jan. 16, host the Oklahoma Sooners (9-4, 5-3 Big 12) Tuesday, Jan. 26 in Austin. Tip is set for 7pm ET inside the Frank Erwin Center.

Lon Kruger’s Sooners knocked off their second top-10 team in Norman this season with a seven-point victory over the Jayhawks Saturday. OU beat then-No. 9 West Virginia 75-71 Jan. 2.

Oklahoma has won three in a row in the rugged Big 12 after dropping three of its previous four. And despite being third in the conference standings, OU is rated No. 22 overall by KenPom — good for only sixth-best in the top-heavy Big 12.

Oklahoma vs Texas Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Oklahoma +5.5 (-108) +210 Ov 142.5 (-114)
Texas -5.5 (-112) -255 Un 142.5 (-106)

Odds taken Jan. 25 FanDuel

Meantime, the Longhorns had the momentum of their breakout season under head coach Shaka Smart slowed down through no fault of their own. COVID issues with Iowa State and TCU postponed games for Texas last week coming off that 15-point win against KSU.

Now, it’s Smart who has tested positive for the virus. He tweeted earlier Tuesday he is isolating away from the team. Associate head coach KT Turner will take over the reins for the ‘Horns tomorrow, a squad that has won seven of its last eight.

Still, the ‘Horns are slight favorites without their head coach in the Red River Showdown.

So Far, So Good

Sophomore guard De’Vion Harmon scored a game-high 22 points in the win over KU in the first game of a daunting eight-game stretch for OU that includes seven teams currently ranked in the top-25.

YouTube video

Since a 63-59 loss to the Jayhawks in Lawrence Jan. 9, it appears the Sooners have a renewed focus on the defensive end, winning three straight, holding the opponent to 50 points or less in two of those outings.

“I think defensively, the progress that we’ve made allows us to stay in ball games when we haven’t been real smooth offensively,” Kruger said. “I thought that was the case. In the first half, we really shut down offensively in the last four or five minutes. Defensively, we went in with a lead. We didn’t like giving away the lead that we had. This club can win different ways.”

That kind of mentality will serve Oklahoma well in Austin, where it meets a Texas team hungry to get back on the court for the first time in 10 days.

Locked And Loaded

The recent layoff may prove to be a benefit for Texas, even without Smart Tuesday. Three players — including talented freshman Greg Brown — missed the Kansas State game due to COVID issues. Now, all three should be ready to go against the Sooners.

Brown is averaging 11.8 points and eight rebounds a game. It will be interesting to see how the 6-foot-9 forward matches up against OU counterpart Brady Manek. Check out these stats for an idea of how important he is:

The ‘Horns have also been hot from beyond the arc of late, knocking down 25 three-pointers in their last two games. This team has also been one of the most defensively efficient units in the country all season — currently rated No. 8 by KenPom. If the Longhorns keep up their hot-shooting from distance and match OU’s recent defensive prowess, Brown might be the difference in the paint.

Series History

This is the first time the two teams have met this season. Over the last three years, Texas holds a slight advantage against Oklahoma in head-to-head matchups. The Longhorns have won four of six in that time frame, including three straight over the 2018-2019 campaigns. KenPom predicts this one goes UT’s way, with a 75-69 expected outcome.

The number I’m keying on is the total. With each team’s ability to put the clamps down — and with a relatively high total considering OU’s recent performances on the defensive end — this one should go under.

The pick: Under 142.5 (-106)

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