• Even The Odds
  • Posts
  • Baylor Is One Of Two Remaining Undefeated Teams

Baylor Is One Of Two Remaining Undefeated Teams

It's been one heck of an encore for Baylor so far this season, and they'll look to keep it going on a Tuesday night loaded with Top-25 college basketball action 🍿 (4 minute read)

January 11, 2022

I love Kirby Smart — shoutout Georgia. Let’s talk Top-25 college bball matchups 👇

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

Tuesday Night College Basketball

Last night officially put a bow on the college football season, but on the basketball court, conference play is just starting to heat up đŸ”„

Tonight’s slate of games is absolutely packed, with over half the AP Top 25 in action, including three games featuring a pair of ranked teams. Here’s a look at those highlight matchups👇

  • 7PM ET: #19 Texas Tech @ #1 Baylor

  • 8PM ET: #15 Iowa State @ #9 Kansas

  • 9PM ET: #4 Auburn @ #24 Alabama

The four top-ranked teams in the Big 12 will face off against each other, including one of the two remaining unbeaten D1 teams in the country (#1 Baylor, with #5 USC being the other). The Bears have hardly broken a sweat so far this season; they’ve yet to trail with under 10 minutes to go in a game 😳

Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Big 12 Battles

After losing four starters from their national championship-winning team, it would’ve been fair to expect Baylor to take a step back this season. But from the looks of it, Scott Drew’s squad has every intention of making it two titles in a row. Their unblemished record will be put to the test tonight against a tough Texas Tech team that took down #6 Kansas their last time out. Here’s how the lines are looking 👇

  • Spread: Baylor -12

  • Over/Under: 135.5

Impressively enough, in the Red Raiders’ upset over Kansas on Saturday, they were without their top two scorers (Terrence Shannon at 14.3 PPG and Kevin McCullar at 13.5 PPG) due to injury. Both could return for tonight’s game

  • Baylor and Texas Tech rank among the top 20 toughest defenses in the country; Tech allows just 58.3 PPG (12th in the nation), while Baylor gives up 59.5 PPG (19th)

  • The Bears are especially good at forcing turnovers, with opposing teams coughing the ball up on 26.4% of possessions, the ninth-best rate in the country

Elsewhere in the Big 12, the Jayhawks will be looking to avenge last weekend’s loss with a bounce back opportunity against Iowa State. The Cyclones kicked off their season with 12 straight wins before dropping two of their last three. Here’s how those lines are looking 👇

  • Spread: Kansas -12

  • Over/Under: 142

Kansas is notoriously difficult to beat on their home court — they’re unbeaten in Lawrence this season, and head coach Bill Self is a ridiculous 277–15 at Allen Fieldhouse in his KU tenure đŸ€Ż

  • Iowa State last escaped Kansas with a win in 2017; overall, they’ve dropped seven of their last nine games against their conference rivals 

  • Senior guards Ochai Agbaji (Kansas) and Izaiah Brockington (Iowa State) look like two early frontrunners for Big 12 Player of the Year; Agbaji paces the conference in scoring at 20.5 PPG, while Brockington checks in at fourth with 17 PPG and second with 8.1 RPG

We’ve seen some huge individual performances in college basketball recently, but don’t be surprised if one of these veterans steal the spotlight đŸ’Ș

Trivia question: Bill Self was hired as the Kansas head coach in 2003, shortly after the Jayhawks lost in the national championship game. Who did they lose to that season? (answer below)

Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images

SEC Showdown

The SEC’s gotten enough of the spotlight recently, but it’d be a crime not to mention the matchup going down in Tuscaloosa tonight. The Bama-Auburn rivalry goes beyond just the Iron Bowl, and tonight’s hardwood chapter should be a good one👇

  • Spread: Alabama -1.5

  • Over/Under: 156

Auburn has been playing like one of the best teams in the country this season; since a double-OT loss to UConn in the Bahamas (their only defeat of the season), they’ve won 11 straight, with only one of those victories coming by less than nine points

  • However, Alabama has thrived in big games this season. They’re undefeated in three matchups against ranked opponents, having taken down #3 Gonzaga, #14 Houston and #14 Tennessee

  • The Crimson Tide didn’t drop a game at Coleman Coliseum in conference play last season, and they’ve yet to lose a true home game this year

But if Alabama is going to keep their home win streak intact, they’ll have to deal with a heavy dose of Jabari Smith

  • The potential first overall pick has seen lighter minutes in recent blowouts, but he’s still managed to score in double figures in 12 straight games 

  • The 6’10 freshman is an absolute mismatch nightmare, averaging 15.5 PPG on 45.3% shooting from deep, along with 6.3 RPG. KD comparisons aren’t tossed around lightly đŸ€§

With as good as Auburn has been playing recently, they haven’t needed Smith to takeover. I hope Bama keeps this one close so we can see heavy Jabari minutes đŸ€ž

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

For My Parlay Gurus 

It’s a tough call going against Bama in a primetime matchup, especially at home, but I’m all in on Jabari Smith and Auburn this year. I’m going with the Tigers and banking on the Cyclones to cover in this parlay 👇

  • Auburn +1.5 @ Alabama: -110

  • Iowa State +12 @ Kansas: -110

$100 on this bet would win you $265 — if we hit, make sure to email [email protected] for $100**. First come, first serve 😉

Trivia answer: Star freshman Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to a national title over Kansas, 81-78. Melo was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player, and was then selected third overall by the Nuggets in the NBA Draft. Following the defeat, Jayhawk head coach Roy Williams left for UNC