Game Preview: Texas Tech Red Raiders vs New Mexico Lobos

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2009

#23 Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-1) vs. #13 New Mexico Lobos (12-1)

The No. 23 Texas Tech Red Raiders are set to clash with rival the No. 13 New Mexico Lobos on Tuesday in Albuquerque, NM.

CLICK HERE FOR NCAA BASKETBALL FREE PICKS

Texas Tech vs New Mexico

The Red Raiders and the Lobos will be meeting for the 84th time since the series began on February 24, 1931. Texas Tech holds a 43-40 edge in the series. The Red Raiders took the last meeting on Dec 20, 2008, winning 86-78.

Texas Tech beat Stanford 100-87 last Tuesday, keeping their unbeaten home streak alive. Mike Singletary led all scorers with 28 points in the win. Tech’s lone defeat was an 85-83 loss at Wichita State on Dec. 19. WSU is currently 11-1 with its only loss being dealt by Pittsburgh. The Red Raiders are averaging 80.7 points per game for season and have three players posting double figures with Singletary leading the squad with 15.5 points per game. John Roberson is averaging 14.5 points per game with David Tairu adding 11.6 points per game.

The Lobos undefeated streak came to an end, as they fell to the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles 75-66, on December 23. New Mexico is, averaging 80.8 points per game, and will return six players from last year’s meeting against Tech for Tuesday’s match up, with four of those players among their top five leading scorers. Newcomer junior forward Darington Hobson leads the Lobos averaging 16.5 points per game with Roman Martinez (15.8), Phillip McDonald (11.7), Dairese Gary (10.0), and A.J. Hardeman (7.4) playing last season in Lubbock.

The odds makers have the Lobos as –8 ½ -point favorites.

Look for the Lobos to rebound from their surprising loss to Oral Roberts in a contest that saw them give up 13 turnovers –three more than they had been averaging. The Red Raiders will need to step up their shooting percentage to keep up with NMU, primarily from behind the arc as they are ranked last in the conference in made 3-pointers, averaging just 4.6 per game.

Lobos win this one in dramatic fashion with a late second half run, 80-78.

Texas Tech Red Raiders Basketball Betting Trends:

  • Texas Tech is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
  • Texas Tech is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
  • Texas Tech is 3-16 SU in its last 19 games on the road
  • Texas Tech is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing New Mexico

New Mexico Lobos Basketball Betting Trends:

  • New Mexico is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
  • New Mexico is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
  • New Mexico is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games at home
  • New Mexico is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Texas Tech

Leave a Reply