Texas Tech Red Raiders NCAA Basketball Betting
It should go down as a successful first year for Grant McCasland at Texas Tech, the young head coach leading the Red Raiders to an 11-7 Big 12 record and a #6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. For year two, the Red Raiders bring back a solid core of returners and add a handful of impact transfers. This team should once again be in the top half of the Big 12 and contending for a top-six seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Darrion Williams (11 ppg, 8 rpg) and Chance McMillian (11 ppg, 4 rpg) headline the list of returners in the backcourt, both looking to take another step forward in their game this season. Williams was extremely impressive in his first season with the Red Raiders after transferring in from Nevada. Williams showed his ability to score at all three levels last season and was also a force on the glass at 6-6. McMillian transferred in from Grand Canyon last offseason and impressed as a talented scorer and efficient shooter off the bench last season. Kerwin Walton (9 ppg) had his best year for the Red Raiders last season, another impressive shooter for McCasland’s squad (47.8% 3P).
Check the latest NCAA Basketball Betting Lines today!
The Red Raiders returned two players in the frontcourt, sixth-year senior Devan Cambridge (11 ppg, 5 rpg in 8 GP) and rising sophomore Eemeli Yalaho (3 ppg). Cambridge went down with a season-ending injury just eight games into the 2023-24 season, now looking to get back up to speed for his final year of eligibility. Cambridge is another guy who could start for the Red Raiders, but we opted to have him off the bench in our projected lineup. In a thinner frontcourt rotation, Finnish sophomore Eemeli Yalaho could have a big impact off the bench in his second year of college.
Six players left the Texas Tech program this offseason, including last season’s leading scorer, Pop Isaacs (16 ppg, 4 apg). Alongside Isaacs, the Red Raiders lost Joe Toussaint (12 ppg, 4 apg), KyeRon Lindsay (3 ppg), and Lamar Washington (2 ppg) in the backcourt. In the frontcourt, the Red Raiders lost Warren Washington (10 ppg, 7 rpg) and Robert Jennings (4 ppg).
Grant McCasland added four transfers to the mix this offseason, with two guards entering the backcourt and two bigs into the frontcourt. Elijah Hawkins (10 ppg, 4 rpg, 8 apg at Minnesota) should come in and be the starting point guard for this Red Raiders team, arriving in Lubbock after being the third-leading assist man in college basketball at Minnesota last season. Hawkins is elite at setting up his teammates, reaching double-digit assists in eight games last season while also being a sufficient scorer himself. Kevin Overton (11 ppg at Drake) should also have an impact on the Red Raiders’ backcourt rotation, starting all 35 games as a freshman for Drake and impressing as a three-level scorer.
The two incoming transfers in the frontcourt should have just as big of an impact, with New Mexico forward JT Toppin (12 ppg, 9 rpg at New Mexico) and Pitt center Federiko Federiko (5 ppg, 5 rpg at Pitt) joining the squad. Toppin was one of the most impressive freshmen in the country last season, starting 35 games and dominating both sides of the ball, as well as the glass for the Lobos. After a lengthy decision on whether to enter the NBA Draft, Toppin returned to school and could have All-American upside if utilized by Coach McCasland. Federiko, a two-year starter at Pitt, will come in and be the paint protector and enforcer for the Red Raiders, with a majority of his impact likely coming on the glass and on the defensive end of the court.
McCasland found three freshmen on the high school recruiting trails, highlighted by Christian Anderson (4*, NAT 119). Anderson could have an impact in the Red Raiders’ backcourt this year, but it’s more likely that he and Overton take over going forward in 2025-26.
Latest NCAA Tournament Results
| YEAR |
RESULT |
| 2024 |
Lost First Round vs. (11) NC State, 67–80 |
| 2022 |
Lost Sweet Sixteen vs. (2) Duke, 73–78 |
| 2021 |
Lost Second Round vs. (3) Arkansas, 66–68 |
| 2019 |
Lost National Championship vs. (1) Virginia, 77–85 (OT) |
| 2018 |
Lost Elite Eight vs. (1) Villanova, 59–71 |
| 2016 |
Lost First Round vs. (9) Butler, 61–71 |
| 2007 |
Lost First Round vs. (7) Boston College, 75–84 |
2024-2025 NCAA Basketball Top Teams
Log into BookMaker Sportsbook and get the best College Basketball Betting Odds, College Basketball Betting Articles and information about this and all other sports betting events!
