Could Shaka Smart be the next high-profile Texas coach to lose his job? Even though it might be hard to imagine Smart losing his job after just two seasons in Austin, the Texas Longhorns have been awful this season. They have lost three in a row to conference opponents, and although these have been close losses, through a year and a half, the team looks worse than it did under former coach Rick Barnes. Texas will face another tough test when they travel to Waco to face the Baylor Bears on Tuesday.
At 7 p.m. ET, tune into ESPN2 for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at the Ferrell Center. We will have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Tuesday schedule.
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Texas might have a bad record, 7-10 overall and 1-4 in Big 12 play, but the Longhorns have been solid against the number over those conference games. They are 4-1 ATS in Big 12 action with the only loss being a home loss against TCU in the one game in which they were a favorite. Three of their last four games have finished over the total as well.
Baylor got its first ATS win of 2017 with a big road victory in Manhattan against Kansas State on Saturday. It stopped a streak of three straight games in which the Bears failed to cover and came immediately after Baylor’s first SU loss of the season, a 21-point pummeling at the hands of West Virginia. The Bears are 4-1 SU, but 2-3 ATS in Big 12 play this year.
Key Loss
Smart seems to be using this team’s early season struggles as an opportunity to send a message to his team. Tevin Mack was suspended earlier this season for the ubiquitous violation of team rules, and might not play again this season following another suspension.
Mack was leading the team in both minutes and points per game and his loss stings. He was one of the few bright spots on a Longhorns team that has struggled to get its act together, and without him, this team will have to find another way to generate offense.
The loss underscores that Smart believes this is a lost season and he is better served getting everyone in line prior to a possible make-or-break campaign next year. However, if Texas totally tanks down the stretch, there might not be a next season for Shaka.
Matchup to Watch
Without Mack, it will be even harder for Texas to score points on Baylor’s impressive defense. The Longhorns rank near the bottom of all major offensive categories across the nation and are one of the worst power conference teams around offensively. Texas is averaging less than 70 points per outing and are abysmal at the free throw line and behind the arc. This team hits just 30.9 percent of its three-pointers and 67.5 percent of its free throws and now must try to find a way to score against Baylor.
The Bears have a fantastic defense and that has been one of the biggest keys in their hot start. Baylor is holding opponents to just 60.6 points and 38.3 percent shooting from the floor and only West Virginia has had major success against them.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Texas has a better chance than you might think in this one. The Longhorns have played everyone tough so far in their conference losses and Smart employs a similar pressing style to the one that West Virginia used to record 15 steals against Baylor last week.
Don’t expect a lot of points in this one either. Neither team should crack the 70 mark as the defenses rise to the occasion and stifle the opposing offenses.
College Basketball Odds: Texas 68, Baylor 66
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