Baylor is coming alive, however has a tricky take a look at at Texas

Baylor might be not going anyplace as one of many prime applications in school basketball, so long as Scott Drew is the coach.

Two seasons in the past, Baylor gained a nationwide championship. Final season the Bears had been a No. 1 seed, although they had been upset within the second spherical of the NCAA event. This season the Bears did not look that nice at 10-5, however it has rotated.

The Bears have gained six in a row within the robust Large 12, are as much as a No. 3 seed in most mock brackets and are on a 4-1-1 stretch in opposition to the unfold as properly. The recent streak faces a tricky take a look at Monday evening because the Bears play at Texas. The Longhorns are 3.5-point favorites at BetMGM.

Baylor’s surge is usually as a consequence of a implausible backcourt, which ought to put them on everybody’s radar for a deep March Insanity run. Freshman Keyonte George, a McDonald’s All-American final season, has made an instantaneous influence. He’s averaging 17.2 factors per recreation. He could possibly be a lottery decide within the NBA draft this summer time. He is the form of participant who can lead a group via a event.

The Bears are a superb offensive group that has 5 losses, however all of them got here in opposition to groups within the prime 25 of the KenPom rankings.

Texas had a tough 82-71 loss to Tennessee over the weekend, however it’s nonetheless a high quality Longhorns group as properly. Coach Chris Beard was fired after a home violence cost, however Texas has continued to play properly. The Longhorns have lots of expertise and toughness, they usually’ll even be a tricky out within the NCAA event.

It is laborious to cross on Baylor getting factors, given how properly they’re taking part in. If they will beat Texas on Monday evening, their scorching streak will begin to get extra consideration.

Here is a primary take a look at the sports activities betting slate for Monday:

Extra ‘Large Monday’ motion

There aren’t many school basketball video games on a lightweight Monday, however the first recreation of the ESPN “Large Monday” doubleheader is attention-grabbing. Virginia performs at Syracuse and the Cavaliers are a 5.5-point favourite. Syracuse is 13-9 however has had a number of transient flashes of enchancment currently. The Orange has lined in 5 of its final seven video games. Virginia has gained six in a row.

There’s one other Large 12 recreation late as Iowa State group faces Texas Tech. Iowa State is only a 1.5-point favourite at Texas Tech, which had misplaced eight in a row earlier than beating a horrible LSU group. It is laborious to take highway favorites in school basketball however Iowa State is price a glance.

NBA highlighted by Warriors-Thunder

The very best recreation of the eight within the NBA on Monday evening is the Golden State Warriors on the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The Thunder was alleged to be one of many groups within the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, however they’ve been a succesful 24-25 and have an NBA-best 31-17-1 document in opposition to the unfold. It is by no means enjoyable to go in opposition to Golden State, however OKC could possibly be price a shot as a 5.5-point dwelling underdog. The Sacramento Kings (-1.5) on the Minnesota Timberwolves can also be a sneaky good recreation between two scorching groups.

One recreation within the NHL

It is a surprisingly quiet evening within the NHL. The one recreation on the ice is the St. Louis Blues on the Winnipeg Jets, with the Jets as a heavy -225 favourite.

What’s the perfect wager?

I will go together with the Thunder, who’ve been implausible to bettors this season. They’re going to compete at dwelling in opposition to a marquee opponent within the Warriors.