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Texas vs Baylor Picks and Odds

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in College Basketball

Updated Dec 12, 2020 · 5:44 PM PST

Adam Flagler layup at the rim
Baylor guard Adam Flagler (10) goes up for a shot over Stephen F. Austin forward Gavin Kensmil, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Waco, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
  • Baylor is a 7.5-point home favorite over Texas on Sunday in the Big 12 opener for both teams at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas
  • Texas is off to a 6-1 start, with its only loss to No. 9 Villanova; Baylor is 4-0
  • Read below for odds, analysis and our betting prediction for this game

The Big 12 is loaded this season and two of its top teams will open conference play against each other Sunday.

No. 2 Baylor is a 7.5-point favorite over No. 13 Texas in a game at 3pm ET Sunday at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.

#13 Texas vs #2 Baylor Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
Texas +290 +7.5 (-108) Over 136.5 (-114)
Baylor -360 -7.5 (-112) Under 136.5 (-106)

Odds taken Dec. 12 from FanDuel

Texas is 5-1 with its lone loss coming by four points at home to No. 9 Villanova last Sunday. The Longhorns are also 5-1 against the spread.

Though the pandemic has played havoc with its schedule, Baylor is 4-0 both overall and ATS.

Texas’ Fab Frosh Heats Up

The eyes of Texas – or at least Longhorns basketball fans – are on freshman forward Greg Brown.

Brown was one of the most-ballyhooed recruits in program history. He is also a hometown kid, having grown up and played high school ball in Austin.

Brown, though, has not yet been dominant through the first six games of his collegiate career. He is averaging 19.5 minutes a game with 9.8 points and 6.0 rebounds.

However, Brown had what might have been his breakout game Wednesday night, when he scored a personal-best 18 points in a 74-53 victory over visiting Texas State as 17.5-point favorites.

Brown made three 3-point field goals after connecting just twice in 17 attempts from beyond the line in the five previous games. He also blocked three shots to double his season total.

Texas has not needed Brown to carry a heavy load as it has six seniors on the roster.

The Longhorns also have five players scoring at least 9.2 points a game, led by junior guard Courtney Ramey (14.7) and senior guard Matt Coleman III (14.5).

Another senior, forward Jericho Sims, is coming off his best all-round game of the season as he had eight points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes against Texas State. Coach Shaka Smart had expressed disappointment in Sims’ early-season play.

Home At Last

Baylor will be playing just its second home game of the season because of coronavirus-related postponements and cancellations.

The Bears rolled to an 83-52 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday night in their home opener.

That came four days after their much-anticipated showdown with Gonzaga in Indianapolis was postponed because of two positive tests for COVID-19 in the Bulldogs’ program.

Five Baylor players scored in double figures, including three reserves, as the Bears covered the 23.5-point spread. In all, the Bears had 43 points of bench scoring.

One of those bench players was sophomore guard Adam Flagler, who had a team-high 14 points in 23 minutes. Flagler is in his first season with Baylor after transferring from Presbyterian, where he was the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year in 2018-19.

Flagler is averaging 15.3 points a game, tied for the team lead in scoring with preseason All-American junior guard Jared Butler.

Baylor forced Stephen F. Austin, which was 28-3 last season, into 35 turnovers that led to 40 points.

The meeting with Stephen F. Austin is the only one of the six on the initial schedule that the Bears have played.

Longtime Rivals

Texas and Baylor will be playing for the 257th time in a rivalry that dates back 106 years. The Bears have won the last three games and nine of the last 10.

Baylor swept last season’s series, winning 59-44 in Austin as an 8.5-point favorite and 52-45 in Waco as a six-point choice.

In the first matchup, MaCio Teague led Baylor with 21 points and Sims had 13 points and 15 rebounds to pace Texas. Teague and Coleman topped their teams with 11 points in the rematch.

YouTube video

The addition of Brown and Flagler to the rivalry should make this game more aesthetically pleasing but look for the freshman to help Texas sneak under the number.

The Pick: Texas +7.5 (-108)

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