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NCAA Hoops: Texas, Oklahoma, and Baylor need to show out in Big XII Tournament

NCAA Hoops: Texas, Oklahoma, and Baylor need to show out in Big XII Tournament
The Longhorns will need two good performances this week to have a shot at the NCAA Tournament. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The Big XII tournament kicks off tomorrow with several teams in need of wins to have a shot to play in the NCAA tournament. Here are a few things to know going into the conference championship. 

SCHEDULE: 

Wednesday, March 7th

GAME 1: No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma (ESPNU) 6 PM

GAME 2: No. 7 Texas vs. No. 10 Iowa State (ESPNU) 8 PM

Thursday, March 8th

GAME 3: No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 5 TCU (ESPN2) 11:30 AM

GAME 4: No. 1 Kansas vs. Game 1 winner (ESPN2) 1:30 PM

GAME 5: No. 2 Texas Tech vs. Game 2 winner (ESPN2) 6 PM

GAME 6: No. 3 West Virginia vs. No. 6 Baylor (ESPN2) 8 PM

Friday, March 9th

GAME 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner (ESPN 2) 6 PM

GAME 8: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner (ESPN2) 8 PM

Saturday March 10th

GAME 9-Championship Game: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner (ESPN) 5 PM

 

ODDS:

Kansas +200

West Virginia +350

Texas Tech +450

Kansas State +700

TCU +1000

Baylor +1200

Texas +2000

Oklahoma +2000

Oklahoma State +2000

Iowa State +2500


THE STAKES: 

Kansas, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Kansas State and TCU are all solidly locked into tournament spots. Iowa State can’t make the tournament without winning the conference tourney. That leaves Baylor, Texas and the Oklahoma schools as bubble teams. With Oklahoma and Oklahoma State going up against each other in the first game, one of them could be eliminated early on. For Oklahoma, a first round win may be enough to lock in their spot. Oklahoma State would likely need a win over Kansas to get an at-large bid. Texas absolutely has to beat Iowa State, and would need a good showing against Texas Tech on Thursday to have a shot. This isn’t out of the question, given that Keenan Evans is clearly not at 100% health. Baylor could get onto the right side of the bubble with a win over West Virginia. Overall, the conference should send a minimum of 6 teams to the dance, with 8 teams being the ceiling. 


PREDICTIONS: 

Oklahoma State def. Oklahoma

Texas def. Iowa State

 

TCU def. Kansas State

Kansas def. Oklahoma State

Texas Tech def. Texas

Baylor def. West Virginia

 

Kansas def. TCU

Baylor def. Texas Tech

Kansas def. Baylor

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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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