Kansas State vs No. 13 Texas Tech Preview, Odds, Predictions (Feb. 21)
- The Wildcats won their first game with interim coach Matthew Driscoll.
- The Red Raiders hope to keep winning without their injured star JT Toppin.
- This marks the 53rd all-time matchup between the two Big 12 squads.
The Big 12 will be due for an intriguing matchup when the No. 13 Texas Tech Red Raiders host the Kansas State Wildcats. The ranked squad comes out as the slight favorite, but recent injuries leave them vulnerable to falling in the conference standings.
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, Feb. 21, 2:30 pm ET
- Where: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, Texas
- How to Watch: FOX
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas State | -110 | +12.5 | O158 |
| Texas Tech | -110 | -12.5 | U158 |
Game Preview
The Wildcats (11-15, 2-11 Big 12) are going through an important transition period, firing head coach Jerome Tang after four seasons. Letting assistant Matthew Driscoll take over as the interim head coach, they ended a six-game losing streak after taking down Baylor at home on Feb. 17. They rank among the top 35 in several categories, including 20th in fastbreak points (15.4), 21st in assists (17.8), 42nd in 3-point field goals/game (9.8) and 48th in 3-point field goal percentage (36.7). PJ Haggerty shines bright as the leading scorer, producing 23.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and four assists per contest.
The No. 13 Red Raiders (19-7, 9-4 Big 12) suffered a brutal loss in their rotation, seeing star forward JT Toppin go down for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign. He tore his ACL against Arizona State on Feb. 17, significantly altering the championship hopes for Texas Tech. They were rolling with three consecutive wins before losing to the Sun Devils. Christian Anderson will handle the reins as the next best player, looking to keep his squad afloat in the tournament picture. He leads the Big 12 and is third nationally with 7.6 assists per game and is also on the Wooden Award and Naismith National Player of the Year Late-Season Watch Lists. He is also averaging 19 points per game this season, making 44% of his shots from beyond the arc so far this season.
Kansas State vs Texas Tech Head-to-Head
The two programs have had 52 meetings in their history, and the result is 26-26 for the Tar Heels. The last matchup was on January 2025 when Texas Tech won 61-57 at home.
Kansas State vs No. 13 Texas Tech Predictions
The Wildcats have plenty of motivation, winning their first game under Matthew Driscoll. As for the Red Raiders, this marks their first game without JT Toppin as it will be difficult for the squad to make a deep run without their top star. Despite this, Texas Tech boasts better talent on both sides of the ball as the hosts will play for pride in front of their home fans. Our betting pick here is the Red Raiders to cover a 12.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â Texas Tech Red Raiders -12.5
