The Oklahoma Sooners are in Lubbock, Texas this afternoon to take on Big 12 rival Texas Tech. The Sooners, who have played the better part of their last two games without sophomore Blake Griffin, are fighting to regain the top spot in the conference with just three games left in the season. Today's game, which tips off at 3:30pm ET at the United Spirit Arena, will be broadcast live on ABC.
Oklahoma vs Texas Tech College Basketball Picks at SBGglobal.com have the Red Raiders listed as +9 against the spread home underdog. Griffin will be in action today for the visiting Sooners.
Oklahoma knew Blake Griffin was their bread and butter, but they found out exactly how much the star performer does mean after he suffered a first half concussion against the Texas Longhorns on the 21st. Texas controlled the game with Griffin out and went on to win 73-68, snapping OU's 13 game win streak in the process. The loss was the Sooners first in conference play and just their second of the season.
Jeff Capel's squad faced Kansas in Norman on Monday night while Griffin looked on from the bench. The Jayhawks took the lead in the Big 12 conference race by defeating the Sooners 87-78. Point guard Sherron Collins went for 26 against Oklahoma and center Cole Aldrich dominated the paint with Griffin absent, scoring 15 points and grabbing 20 boards. Freshman guard Willie Warren stepped up for the Sooners for the second game in a row; he scored 23 points in the losing effort.
Number three Oklahoma is now 11-2 in conference action and 25-3 overall. They are 6-2 on the road this season where they average 74.4 points per game and allow host squads 66.6 in return.
Texas Tech has taken its share of lumps this season as their 2-11 Big 12 record and their 12-16 overall tally would indicate. They have lost five straight and nine of their last 10 games headed into today's contest. The Red Raiders played well in their last two outings, but the result looked all to familiar to Head Coach Pat Knight.
Knight's troops lost at home 79-73 to Texas A&M before heading into Austin on Wednesday night. They gave the Longhorns all they could handle before eventually falling 81-87. The Red Raiders, led by junior Nick Okorie's 24 points, hit 48.3 percent from the field in the defeat.
Texas Tech does have a decent 11-5 mark at home this season. They are averaging a stellar 81.3 points per game at the United Spirit Arena.
SBGglobal.com's Oklahoma vs Texas Tech College Basketball Picks:
Oklahoma Sooners -9 (-110), Over 160.5 (-110), -450 (Moneyline)
Texas Tech Red Raiders +9 (-110), Under 160.5 (-110), +325 (Moneyline)
