The Baylor Bears and the Texas Tech Red Raiders continue Big 12 Conference men’s basketball action on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. central. Baylor (14-7, 6-4 in Big 12) is not ranked in the AP Top 25 while Texas Tech (17-4, 8-2) is ranked No. 13.
Baylor has won three of its last four games, including Saturday’s stunner in Waco over then-No. 11 Kansas. Baylor was down 21 points in the first half and rallied to claim a victory that turned out to be the biggest lead the Jayhawks have given up in a loss.
Texas Tech has won six straight games and is coming off its 82-81 overtime win at Houston, which at the time was ranked No. 6. The Red Raiders soared nine spots in the AP Top 25 and proved that it will be a team to be reckoned with not just in the Big 12, but in the NCAA Tournament.
Here is a preview of Tuesday’s game.
How to Watch Baylor vs. Texas Tech
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025
Time: 8 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN2
Site: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, Texas
Baylor vs. Texas Tech Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: Texas Tech -8.5
Current Line: Texas Tech -7.5
Over/Under: 140.5
Baylor vs. Texas Tech Predictions
Baylor is still short-handed, as both Jeremy Roach and Langston Love were unable to play on Saturday against Kansas. Still, the Bears are making it work. That win over Kansas was just gutty. Remember — after Baylor rallied to tie the game seven minutes in the second half, Kansas rebuilt the lead to 10 points before the Bears surged to the victory.
For a national audience, freshman Robert Wright III’s performance was revelatory, even though Big 12 watchers have known about him for weeks. His 24 points, at times, carried the Bears on his back, especially after freshman VJ Edgecombe left the game with an injury.
Edgecombe was back on the bench at the end of the game, so it’s hopeful he can play on Tuesday. The status of Roach and Love bears monitoring right up to gametime.
The Red Raiders beat the Cougars because they were the first team in the Big 12 to match Houston’s relentlessness for 40 — or in this case — 45 minutes. Texas Tech, obviously, was driven by the ejections of JT Toppin and coach Grant McCasland.
It was a fire-drill moment for the Red Raiders, and they figured it out with Eemeli Yalaho and Federiko Federiko, who combined for five points and 10 rebounds. It wasn’t a lot, but no one in Lubbock was arguing about Yalaho’s defense on the final play of overtime.
The win propelled the Red Raiders up nine spots in the AP Top 25. This is a team that can keep up with any in the conference and, frankly, in the country.
Texas Tech 76, Baylor 71
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Texas Tech (64.5% Chance of Winning)
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
