USA Today via Reuters
Dec 21, 2020; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jared Butler (12) and forward Zach Loveday (32) slap hands after a made basket against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions during the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 21, 2020; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jared Butler (12) and forward Zach Loveday (32) slap hands after a made basket against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions during the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Men’s Basketball action will see a genuine clash of the heavyweights when the #2 ranked Baylor Bears will take on the #15 ranked Texas Tech Raiders. Both teams would love to get a win against a statement opponent like the one ahead of them. However, Texas Tech ending Baylor’s unbeaten run would definitely be more significant than Baylor swatting another team aside.
Baylor has beaten every team they have faced, but this game is more about looking at the future. This kicks off a run of tricky fixtures for the Bears, where they face the Kansas Jayhawks, Oklahoma State Cowboys, and even the Texas Longhorns in two weeks.
💪 @BaylorMBB and @umichbball are the only teams currently in KenPom's top 10 in offense and defense pic.twitter.com/pGNXlcO7o4
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 15, 2021
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The Red Raiders are off a massive win against their rivals Texas Longhorns. The team will hope to carry over some of that magic to this massive clash with the Bears and help improve their ranking in the AP Top 25.
While one may be the best team in the nation, the other wants to make a habit of upsetting these teams. Who takes the win here?
NCAA Men’s Basketball: Are the Bears just too good for the rest of the field?
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One of the main talking points about Baylor and #1 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs is that both teams may just be a step above the rest of the field this season. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the NCAA designs their entire tournament around these Goliaths being slain by David.
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 2, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Scott Drew celebrates the win with forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (23) after the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
While the Red Raiders are no David, this game will be challenging. However, they will rely on their star guard Mac McClung to help lead this team to a win against the Bears. However, are him and his supporting cast enough?
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The Bears will start the game with MaCio Teague, Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell, Mark Vital, and Flo Thamba. The Red Raiders will start a team with Mac McClung, Kevin McCukkar, Micah Peavy, Kyler Edwards, and Marcus Santos-Silva.
Both teams are in good form, but the Bears are a class apart. We pick them to use their tremendous defensive talent to slow down the Red Raiders and help build their unbeaten streak right now.
