New Orleans vs Texas Prediction 12/19/2024

New Orleans vs Texas Preview

Texas (9-2, 6-1 at Home) welcomes New Orleans (2-7, 1-6 on Road) to Austin on Thursday night for an SEC-Southland Conference clash deep in the heart of the Lone Star State. In its last 5 games, the Privateers are just 1-4, losing to Robert Morris by 11 (73-62), defeating Tulane by 6 in OT (93-87), losing to Baylor by 31 (91-60), Nicholls State by 3 (73-70), and then getting sand-blasted by Iowa by 47 points in their last game (104-57). The Longhorns are 4-1 in their last 5, bopping Delaware State by 22 (90-68), NC State by 4 (63-59), losing to two-time defending national champions Connecticut by 11 (76-65), beating New Mexico State by 24 (91-67) and pummeling Arkansas-Pine Bluff by 64 (121-57). Texas is currently priced at 75/1 (DraftKings) to win the 2025 NCAA Basketball championship.

New Orleans the Next Sacrificial Lamb in Austin?

New Orleans (5-4-0 ATS, 4-5-0 O/U) only has two players scoring in double-digits in G James White (19.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and G Jah Short (11.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg) with 3 other guys averaging 6.6 ppg or more in F MJ Thomas (8.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg), G Dae Dae Hunter (7.2 ppg), and G JR Jacobs (6.6 ppg, 4.3 apg), so this could be a long night for the Privateers. New Orleans is averaging just 67.1 ppg (#353) while allowing 83.2 ppg for a -16.1 Point Differential. The Privateers are averaging 35.8 rpg (#247) and 12.7 apg (Tied-#302). College Hoops guru Ken Pomeroy has New Orleans (+4000 Moneyline) ranked No. 345 (of 364 DI teams) with new SEC dribblers Texas checking in at No. 37.

New Orleans Betting Trends

• New Orleans is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games
• The Privateers are 3-1-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall
• NO has alternated 2 Unders/Overs in its last 6 games (UUOOUU)
• The Musketeers are 0-1 SU lifetime vs Texas (TEX 89 NO 55, Dec. 14, 2003)
• New Orleans was 11-18-0 ATS last 2023-24 NCAAB season (37.9%)

Texas Comes in Off 121-Point Scorefest on Tuesday

Texas (6-5-0 ATS, 5-5-1 O/U) fell out of the Top 25 last week, but don’t get it twisted, this is a good basketball team. Losses to two-time defending champions Connecticut and Ohio State are no big deal. The Longhorns offense is led by star G Tre Johnson (19.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg), F Arthur Kaluma (14.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg), F Kadin Shedrick (10.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg), G Tramon Mark (9.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg), G Jordan Pope (8.9 ppg), G Chendall Weaver (7.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg), G Julian Larry (6.6 ppg, 4.3 apg), and F Jayson Kent (6.5 ppg). Texas averages 83.9 ppg (#37) while allowing 62.8 ppg and averages 36.4 Rebounds Per Game (Tied-#202) and 15.5 Assists Per Game (Tied-#112). Against UAPB, all 5 starters were in double-digits with Pope having 17, Shedrick and Weaver 14 apiece. Kaluma 13, and Mark 10. The leading scorer for Texas (-100,000 Moneyline) was Bench player and Freshman F Nic Codie (20 points) with Devon Pryor (10 points) also in double-digits so this team can get scoring from 9 different guys.

Texas Betting Trends

• Texas is 9-1 SU in the last 10 games overall
• The Over is 3-0-1 in the last 4 Texas games
• Texas is 22-11 in the last 33 on the First Half Moneyline (+9.60 Units, 1% ROI)
• The Longhorns were 14-20-0 ATS last 2023-24 NCAAB season (41.2%)
• Texas has scored 90 points or more 5 times so far this season (90, 90, 91, 105, 121)

New Orleans vs Texas Prediction

The Privateers have allowed 91 points or more 3 times already, and expect Texas to top the 100 point mark in this game where backing the Longhorns in the First Half ATS market may also be a good idea. At Halftime of its 104-57 loss at Iowa, New Orleans trailed by 28 (57-29). And at Halftime of Texas’s destruction of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Austin on Tuesday, the Longhorns led by 40 (66-26). Texas shot a blistering 62.9% from the Field, 56.7% from behind the arc and won the Rebounding (41-23) and TO battles (7-22). With Pomeroy having New Orleans at 345 and UAPB at No. 362, another 40- to 50-point blowout is likely in store. This New Orleans vs Texas NCAAB pick will side with the Home team and remind you to look at the First Half number as well when it comes out.

Kevin’s Pick: Texas -34.5