Best Big 12 Tournament Second Round Picks Against the Spread
With the Big 12 Tournament underway in Kansas City, we have a new slate of games to look at from a betting perspective. Wednesday features four matchups to look at, including BYU-UCF, TCU-OU, UT-KSU, and KU-UC.
Let’s take a look at our Best Bets for the second-round of the Big 12 Tournament.
#12 UCF KNIGHTS VS. #5 BYU COUGARS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 11:30 AM CT, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
BYU -5.5, TOTAL: 145 (ODDS VIA DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK)
The first game of Wednesday’s quadruple header in KC. A matchup we saw twice this year with
the Cougars winning both meetings by single digits. BYU’s offense is an elite unit, especially
when they are hitting their threes. The Cougars are Top 10 in the country at two point efficiency
according to KenPom but they will need to improve on the 32.6% they shot from three in Big 12
play. The Knights decimated Oklahoma State in the second half on Tuesday afternoon to win
their first ever Big 12 Tournament game. As I said in the Big 12 Tournament preview article, the
Knights are going to be a difficult out in this tournament and I think they matchup well with BYU.
UCF is a Top 25 two point defense according to KenPom and the close losses to the Cougars
make me think that the Knights have a real shot to pull off the outright upset in the early game in
KC. I’m surprised BYU is as big of a favorite as they are, UCF should stay in this game and will
cover the 5.5 point spread. Don’t be shocked if the Knights pull the outright upset.
PICK: UCF +5
#10 KANSAS STATE WILDCATS VS. #7 TEXAS LONGHORNS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 6:00 PM CT, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
TEXAS -4.5, TOTAL: 143 (ODDS VIA DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK)
A fun matchup to kick off the night session in downtown Kansas City. The Wildcats enter the
week needing to make the Championship Game on Saturday to give themselves a chance to
sneak into the Big Dance. Realistically, K State probably needs to win the whole thing and they
have to start with a short upset against Texas. The first matchup between these two was an
ugly grinder of a game in Austin that the Longhorns were under a point per possession and still
found a way to beat the Wildcats. Dylan Disu had a huge game for UT as the Wildcats didn’t
have much of an answer for him. This game should play closer to a Kansas State home game
as the crowd will likely be split behind Wildcat fans and Jayhawk fans (Kansas plays the late
game). I fully expect this game to be a close game and in the end, I trust Tylor Perry to have his
moment and lead the Wildcats to a victory in this game to keep the dream alive and to set up
what should be a physical battle against Iowa State on Thursday evening.
PICK: KANSAS STATE +4.5
