Game Time: 5:00 PM ET, Tuesday, January 18th, 2022

Venue: WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, West Virginia

Where to Watch:  ESPN 2

 

DraftKings Sportsbook:  

Caesars:  Spread: NL

VegasInsider:  Spread: 

Baylor: 3-2 conf, 25-2 overall (Big 12)

West Virginia: 2-2 conf, 13-3 overall (Big 12)

A Big 12 matchup between conference opponents that are very familiar with each other and playing great basketball right now.  The Big 12 is loaded with great basketball teams right now.  Since conference play began they have been beating up on each other in a way that will make them all stronger come March Madness time.  The Kansas Jayhawks, the TCU Horned Frogs, the Texas Longhorns, the Texas Tech Red Raiders… all these teams can do damage to anybody… and I haven’t even mentioned Iowa State.  Among all these teams Baylor has the most recent success, winning the big dance last season… sending Davion Mitchell off to the Sacramento Kings… They are currently ranked #5 in the nation.  West Virginia is not among the elite in the Big 12.  West Virginia is a quality school, but today we will be reviewing the numbers to see if they can cover the spread or not.

The Baylor Bears keep on displaying a full roster of quality players. Unfortunately their undefeated season came to an end twice this week.  They lost to Oklahoma State and Texas Tech in back to back games.  The losses are timed perfectly to be games that 6’9 power forward Jeremy Sochan was out with an ankle injury.. He is only averaging 7.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, and 2.0 apg… which are OK but his defensive presence is missed.  Plus there are issues with bench depth when starters go down.  However Baylor is still a stacked team… they have had a couple days to rest and review.  They should not have to worry too much about West Virginia.

West Virginia is 2-2 over their last 4 games.  The two losses were to Kansas by 26 points and Texas by 15 points…. The two wins were over Oklahoma State by 10 points and over Kansas State by 3 points ( a loss ATS).  West Virginia leans heavily on guard Taz Sherman who leads them in points (18.9) and assists (2.7)... Their leader highlights the weaknesses of the roster.  No one should lead the team in assists while only getting 2.7 per game. That statistic alone highlights a team that bullies lesser teams with one on one play, but falls victim to good teams that play team ball.  The reason the Princeton offense still works in college basketball 90 years after its inception is that pass, pass, pass, shoot is still the best way to find a good shot. Dribble, Dribble, Dribble, attack is still the best way to set the defense against you.

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Baylor is 15-2 on the season, but 9-7-1 ATS.  They have logged 9 Overs, 7 Unders, and 1 Push.  They are 3-0 in road games… seemingly unfazed by someone else’s gym.

West Virginia is 13-3 on the season, but 8-8 ATS.  They have notched 7 Overs and 9 Unders.  They are 10-0 in home games.

Baylor is 25th in the nation in scoring at 79.9 ppg, 93rd in rebounds with 34.8 per game, and 33rd in AST/TO ratio with 1.4.  They are shooting the ball very well at 25th in FG%, 61st in 3PT%,... the weak spot is at the free throw line where they are 299th with a measly 66.7%.  The Baylor calling card would of course be defense where they are ranked 20th and only allow 59.9 ppg from opponents.

West Virginia is 253rd in scoring with 69 ppg, 249th in rebounds with 31.6 per game, and 291st in AST/TO ratio with 0.9.  They are bad shooters… bad:  254 in FG%, 283rd in 3PT%, and where they should have the advantage they also are not good enough at 296th in FT% with a terrible 66.8 %.  (it’s free points people!) They are also a quality defensive team with a 39th in the nation ranking while only allowing 62.8 ppg from opponents.

Our prediction for Tuesday, January 18th is…  Baylor 75 - WVU 66

Baylor will roll the Mountaineers.  Baylor has had troubles in the last 2 games, but certainly not the kind of troubles that would cause them to drop one against one of the worst shooting teams in the Nation.

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WVU is 2-0 ATS versus Baylor at WVU over the last 3 seasons.

Baylor is 5-1 ATS after scoring 60 points or less the last 3 seasons.

Baylor is 5-1 ATS in a road game where the total is 135-139.5 the last 3 seasons.

Baylor is 1-2 ATS as an underdog this season.

Baylor: G James Akinjo (undisclosed) Quest ** F Jeremy Sochan (ankle) Quest

WVU: F James Okonkwo (foot) Out

Baylor: F Flo Thamba, G Kendall Brown, G Adam Flagler, G James Akinjo, F Matthew Meyer

WVU: F Jalen Bridges, F Isaiah Cottrell, G Kedrian Johnson, G Taz Sherman, G Sean McNeil

Baylor

Points: James Akinjo 13.9

Assists: James Akinjo 5.7

Rebounds: Jonathan Tchamwa-Tchatchoua 7.8

Steals: James Akinjo 2.1

Blocks: Flo Thamba 1.1

WVU

Points: Taz Sherman 18.9

Assists: Taz Sherman 2.7

Rebounds: Gabe Osabuohien 5.9

Steals: Kendrian Johnson 2.0

Blocks: Dimon Carrigan 1.1

Baylor: Scott Drew

WVU: Bob Huggins