#16 Texas Tech vs. #1 Arizona Picks and Predictions: Big 12 Basketball
Written by: Nate Hornung
Last Update: Sat Feb 14, 2026, 9:55 am ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Two of the top teams in the best conference in college basketball meet at the McKale Memorial Center in Tucson on Saturday for some ranked on ranked Big 12 hoops. The top ranked Arizona Wildcats just suffered their first loss of the season this past Monday at Allen Fieldhouse and now have to bounce back against the No. 16 Texas Tech Red Raiders. Will Grant McCasland's team find a way to upset the Wildcats, or even cover the spread? Let's find out how our CBB experts are wagering on this matchup with their favorite picks.
Best Bet: Texas Tech/Arizona Over 155.5 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
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#16 Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. #1 Arizona Wildcats NCAA Basketball Insights
Can Christian Anderson and the Red Raiders take down the top ranked Wildcats on the road this Saturday?
In years past, this is an easy smash spot for Arizona. They are at home coming off a loss and sit in a stereotypical "bounce back" spot in their own gym. However I wouldn't be so quick to count out the Red Raiders, as they are still a top team in college hoops. Texas Tech has won two straight since losing to Kansas in Lubbock and have a big upset win over Duke and Houston this year. But taking down the top ranked Wildcats on the road is a tough ask.
This Red Raiders team is overshadowed by some other giants in the conference, but you can never count them out. Sure, they are a much better team on their home floor (who isn't), however they are clearly still capable of getting things done away from home. But can they do it this weekend against a team whose recent loss might have been the best thing for them.
Matchup Information – Texas Tech vs. Arizona – February 14
- Venue & Location: McKale Memorial Center (Tuscon, AZ)
- Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026
- Kick Off: 6:30 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN
Texas Tech vs. Arizona Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of February 13, 2026 at 1:37 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- Texas Tech +9.5 (-110)
- Arizona -9.5 (-110)
Moneyline
- Texas Tech +440
- Arizona -600
Total
- Over 155.5 (-110)
- Under 155.5 (-110)
#16 Texas Tech vs. #1 Arizona NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Jaden Bradley and the Wildcats just suffered their first loss of the season. Can they bounce back at home?
Texas Tech vs. Arizona Prediction: Arizona Wins and Covers, Over 155.5
Best Bet: Texas Tech/Arizona Over 155.5 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
While I do think the Wildcats win and cover the double digit spread, I trust Texas Tech to keep up. The Wildcats are top 25 in the country in terms of pace, and jump into the top 12 when on their home floor, averaging an extra couple of possessions per game. They are crazy efficient on offense, especially at getting to the hoop and grabbing offense boards, but their defense is rock solid as well. However, the Red Raiders shoot the ball as good as anyone in the country.
Texas Tech jumps 30 spot in terms of pace in six true road games this year, but they aren't shy about letting it fly. This team takes over 46% of their shots from deep, and are top six in the country in 3P% away from home, making them at a 41.6% clip. Not to mention they are also top 30 in 2P% away from home. Now, they struggle to get to the line and grab offensive rebounds, but I believe they can make up for it as Arizona is No. 8 in the conference in 3P Rate defense.
Ultimately, yes. We are rooting for both teams to score which can be viewed as a "square" play. However, I think Arizona might get caught flat footed on defense as we've seen with other teams coming to Tucson. The Sun Devils gave them a run for their money by shooting 44% from deep, and the Red Raiders are certainly capable of doing the same. Plus, Arizona hosts BYU on Wednesday, which may cause them to be looking ahead a tad.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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