The WVU men’s basketball team has maintained an undefeated record at the WVU Coliseum this season. However, the No. 4 Texas Longhorns have the potential to break this streak on Saturday, particularly if they can perform as well as the recent West Virginia basketball betting odds suggest.
The Mountaineers have a 1.5-point advantage as they strive to preserve their flawless home record at 1 p.m. EST on ESPN. According to the trends, in order for WVU to achieve this, they must capitalize on their tendency to begin games with great intensity.
Complete odds for the upcoming college games available at online sportsbooks in West Virginia.
West Virginia basketball betting odds
In the past 20 home games since the 2019-20 season, West Virginia has emerged victorious in the first half of 16 matchups. One such notable game was held last January against Texas, where they secured a remarkable 38-point victory. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that the current Longhorns team presents a different challenge.
When Texas takes the lead at halftime, they have a perfect record of winning every game. However, their win rate decreases to only 50% when they are trailing at the break. On the other hand, WVU does not have a significant difference in win rates between leading and trailing at halftime. Surprisingly, the Mountaineers’ win rate actually improves when they have been trailing and start the second half.
For Texas games this year, the average point total is just 139.1. Meanwhile, games at the WVU Coliseum this season have an average of 132.3 points. Therefore, the total of 141.5 for this game is higher than both the average total for Longhorns games and the average total at the venue. However, the over has been successful in 8 out of 12 Mountaineer games, and the average total for games involving West Virginia is 144.3.
The game statistics indicate that the competition between the two teams is very close. Both teams have shown similar levels of performance on the court throughout the season.
Breaking down the Longhorns, Mountaineers by the numbers
Texas is currently on a five-game winning streak, with their closest victory being a narrow three-point win against Oklahoma State at home on Dec. 20. West Virginia, on the other hand, recently achieved a similar margin of victory against the same team, but on the road, on Jan. 4.
In terms of offense, the Longhorns and WVU are evenly matched, with both teams scoring an average of 76 and 75.3 points per game, respectively. However, when it comes to defense, there is a slight disparity. On average, the Longhorns allow six fewer points per game compared to West Virginia.
Texas is slightly more accurate with their field goal shooting, at a rate of 44.8%. Nonetheless, both teams have similar stats in terms of rebounds, assists, and turnovers forced per game. The outcome of this game might ultimately depend on which point guard can gain an advantage in their individual matchup.
Both Matt Coleman III from Texas and Miles McBride from WVU not only lead their teams in assists per game but also in scoring average. In a game that is expected to be closely contested, even a few errors by either of these players could significantly impact betting odds on the spread.
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