NCAAB: Texas vs. Oklahoma odds, preview, and pick

The No. 13 Texas Longhorns take to the road on Tuesday night to face a familiar rival in the No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners. The two teams tangled just three weeks ago, with Oklahoma prevailing 80-79. Now, with their roster at full strength, the Longhorns will look to return the favor with a road victory of their own in a key Big 12 matchup.

Sooners have won two straight

Oklahoma is 13-5 overall and 8-4 in conference play, and enters this game feeling good about the way it's played over the last month. The Sooners won two straight and seven of their last eight. Their most recent appearance was a hard-fought 91-90 double overtime victory against the tough West Virginia Mountaineers. Star guard Austin Reaves contributed 28 points in the victory.

Despite their run of success and ascension to 12th in the rankings, however, the Sooners are just 22nd in KenPom’s efficiency rankings. Supporters of the program will point to their 12-6 record against the spread, and 8-3 record at home, as clear evidence that they find a way to outperform those efficiency rankings thanks to good coaching and sound play from their pair of excellent guards. 6'2" sophomore De’Vion Harmon has been particularly sharp, scoring in double digits in seven of Oklahoma's last eight games.

Texas is back at full strength

When these teams played back on Jan. 26, Texas was still reeling from COVID-19 repercussions. Head coach Shaka Smart was absent, as were two starters and a key bench player. Courtney Ramey and Jericho Sims have returned to the lineup, and teammates Andrew Jones and Matt Coleman III are pleased to welcome them back.

At full strength, and given the opportunity to coalesce after a midseason disruption, this Texas team has won two straight and looks poised to return to their elite ways that saw them start the season at 10-1. They are through the toughest part of the schedule, and while it didn’t bode well for them with losses to Oklahoma, Baylor, and Oklahoma State, they have legitimate excuses for those defeats.

Basketball, at its best, is a game of rhythm and innate understanding of your teammates’ actions and movements, so when practices, games, and starting lineups are thrown into turmoil as the Longhorns’ were in January, a drop-off is inevitable. Despite their struggles, they still rate more efficiently on both offense and defense than the Sooners in this matchup.

The Longhorns will get revenge on Tuesday night

When these teams first faced off in Austin, the short-handed Longhorns were narrow three-point favorites. Back at full strength and with some victories under their belt, the Longhorns are in a perfect spot Tuesday night to get redemption for that loss that sent them on a three-game losing streak.

The Longhorns are undoubtedly the more talented team, and will enjoy the last word with a road victory that will further muddy the waters of the Big 12’s race for second place.

Score prediction: Texas 70, Oklahoma 64

NCAAB pick: Texas