Stephen F. Austin (14) vs. Texas Tech (3) Odds, March Madness Prediction
There’s a recent trend involving No. 3 seeds from the Big 12 that should worry Texas Tech on Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament when the Red Raiders take on No. 14 Stephen F. Austin in their March Madness matchup from Dallas.
NCAA Tournament Odds and Betting Analysis
Now here’s a statistic for you: No. 3 seeds have suffered five losses to No. 14s in the past five years after compiling a 49-3 record against them from 2000-12. The past three No. 3s to lose in the first round all came from the Big 12 like Texas Tech: West Virginia (2016), Baylor (2015) and Iowa State (2015). Texas Tech is in the NCAA Tournament for the 16th time overall and just second this decade. The Red Raiders are 8-16 all-time in the event and have never reached a Final Four.
Stephen F. Austin makes its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance and is 2-4 in it. The Lumberjacks were that No. 14 that beat No. 3 West Virginia in the first round two years ago. SFA then nearly upset Notre Dame too but lost on a last-second tip-in.
The March Madness betting board had Texas Tech as a 11-point favourite at the open. The winner faces the Florida vs. UCLA/St. Bonaventure winner on Saturday.
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
The Lumberjacks (28-6) are champions of the Southland Conference, doing so for the fourth time in the past five seasons. T.J. Holyfield was named MVP of the Southland Tournament; he averages 13.0 points and 6.4 rebounds on the year. The team’s leading scorer is guard Shannon Bogues (15.5 ppg), and he comes off the bench. Texas Tech will be the fourth power conference team that SFA has faced this season. It lost by five at Mississippi State, won by a point at LSU and lost by one at Missouri. The Lumberjacks play a pressure defense that has them No. 1 nationally in turnover percentage on D. They also turn it over plenty themselves, however.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech (24-9) for a while there looked like it might end Kansas’ streak of 13 straight Big 12 regular-season title as the Red Raiders were atop the conference at 10-3, had a win in Lawrence on Jan. 2 and were ranked as high as No. 6 (school record). However, they saw their best player, Keenan Evans, suffer a toe injury that hampered his game, and TTU won just two of its final seven. Evans is playing but struggled in the Big 12 Tournament loss to West Virginia in shooting 5-for-14 from the field and missing two crucial free throws and a 3-pointer late. The senior guard averages 17.5 points overall. Texas Tech is coached by Chris Beard, who learned under Bobby Knight. This is an athletic group but not particularly strong shooting from deep.
