For the teams currently sitting in the top 25, the opportunity to make a big move up the rankings is pretty much over. The only teams that really have a chance of improving their ranking in a meaningful way are those that are going against other ranked teams in the final game of the regular season. That is why the Saturday afternoon match-up between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Baylor Bears is such an interesting one. The chance to become regular season Big-12 conference champions has passed for these two, but they do have a shot at improving their standing heading into the Tournament. Any sort of edge that you can get before the bracket is put together is important, which makes this game a crucial one for both teams. Be sure to get your NCAAB online wagers on for this one before the opening tip.
Betting on West Virginia Mountaineers vs Baylor Bears NCAA Hoops
When: Saturday, March 5 at 2 PM EST
Where: Ferrell Center, Waco
TV: ESPN
Radio: Radio: West Virginia Mountaineers
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
NCAA Odds: TBA
Why bet on West Virginia Mountaineers
The middle of February proved to be a little tough on the Mountaineers (23-7, 12-5), as they went on a run that saw them lose 3 out of 4 games. That would be enough to send many teams into a tailspin, but West Virginia proved that they were mentally tough by coming back to win their next 3 games, including a big win over a ranked Iowa State team. The Mountaineers are 4-4 on the road in conference play so far, and have had particular trouble against ranked teams when playing in their buildings. That said, they have had some big wins against ranked opposition this season, and have already beaten the Baylor Bears in rather convincing style, taking them out 80-69 on home court. West Virginia are averaging 79.9 PPG, and are giving up 66.4 PPG.
Why bet on Baylor Bears
Conference play has proven to be a bit of a struggle for the Baylor Bears (21-9, 10-7), as they have been unable to piece together any level of consistency. They are just .500 on home court during conference play, but they have picked up some ranked scalps along the way, which is why they have been able to maintain their top 20 national ranking. The Bears struggled in their last meeting with Virginia, and they are coming into this game having already taken a loss to another top 10 team in the form of Oklahoma earlier this week. They need a win here to establish some level of confidence with March Madness right around the corner. Baylor are averaging 78.2 PPG, and are giving up 69.6 PPG.
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
Baylor simply haven’t done enough in conference play to convince me that they have what it takes to get the win on Saturday afternoon. The Mountaineers are playing some good ball at the moment, and I think they can overcome what will likely be a hostile environment in order to get the win.
