NCAA Tournament: Texas Tech vs. Buffalo fearless prediction and game preview.
Broadcast
Date: Sunday, March 24
Game Time: Coming
Venue: Bank of Oklahoma Center, Tulsa, OK
Network: COMING
All You Really Need To Know About Texas Tech (27-6)
(Big 12), NCAA NET Rank: 10. West 3-seed
The Red Raiders broke open a tight game in the first half by clamping down defensively on the Northern Kentucky Norse and pulling away with a few timely threes and scoring runs in the 72-57 win. Now Texas Tech has to keep forcing turnovers against a Buffalo team that doesn’t like to give them up.
It’s all about the Red Raider D – only Virginia allowed fewer points per game – by doing a great job of guarding from three and establishing itself on the inside with enough blocks to keep from attacking the rim. Every shot is contested against this team. Always.
All You Really Need To Know About Buffalo (32-3)
(MAC), NCAA NET Rank: 15. West 6-seed
Arizona State appeared to be poised and ready for a great performance after a strong First Four win over St. John’s, and then … pfffffft. The air went out of the balloon in a 91-74 UB win. The Buffalo defense destroyed the Sun Devil offense – holding it to just 3-of-22 from three – and kept up the pressure all game long. Four Bulls ended up scoring in double figures, but that’s nothing new.
This is a strong all-around team that hits the boards hard, can hit from the outside, and has a legitimate “no one believes in us” attitude that seems to be the fuel. If the Bulls are hitting their free throws, and it they’re decent from three, they can be close to unstoppable.
What’s Going To Happen
Do you like one of the nation’s best offenses or top defenses? Texas Tech can score, too, and Buffalo can bring the defense, but all it might take is one big run from the Bulls to take over. The Red Raiders don’t shoot enough threes to keep up if this gets going, and they’re just okay on the boards against a UB team that attacks everything.
Texas Tech is fantastic, but Buffalo is on a mission. There’s nothing this team doesn’t do well, and now it appears to be laser-focused. It’ll take the Red Raiders out of their game, and not the other way around.
Fearless Prediction & Line
Buffalo 75, Texas Tech 72
Line: Coming, o/u: Coming
ATS Confidence: Coming
5: Watching games by Vegas pool working on fruity drink No. 3
1: Watching game online while doing TPS reports in your cubicle
