Texas vs. Penn State: March Madness Predictions and Picks

Photo Credit: © Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Preview

March Madness is in full swing, and the second round of the NCAA Tournament brings us an exciting matchup between the Texas Longhorns and Penn State Nittany Lions. The Longhorns, led by head coach Shaka Smart, finished third in the Big 12 and boast a 27-8 overall record. The Nittany Lions, under head coach Micah Shrewsberry, went 23-13 and finished 10-10 in the Big Ten. This game promises to be a close one, with Texas favored by 5.5 points according to the latest odds. In this article, we'll take a deep dive into both teams and make our March Madness predictions and picks.

Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns had a solid season, finishing with a 27-8 overall record and a 12-6 record in Big 12 play. They enter the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed, and they have the talent and experience to make a deep run in the tournament. The Longhorns are led by junior guard Marcus Carr, who averages 15.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Carr is a versatile scorer who can get to the rim and knock down shots from beyond the arc. He is also an excellent playmaker who can create opportunities for his teammates.

Another key player for the Longhorns is sophomore guard Courtney Ramey. Ramey averages 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He is an excellent shooter from long range, knocking down 38.5% of his 3-point attempts this season. Ramey is also a solid defender, averaging 1.2 steals per game.

On the defensive end, the Longhorns are one of the best teams in the country. They rank third in the Big 12 in team defense, giving up only 67.2 points per game while holding opponents to 42.1% shooting. The Longhorns also excel at rebounding, averaging 39.1 rebounds per game.

Penn State Nittany Lions

The Penn State Nittany Lions had an up-and-down season, finishing with a 23-13 overall record and a 10-10 record in Big Ten play. They enter the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed and will be looking to make a statement against the Longhorns. The Nittany Lions are led by junior guard Jalen Pickett, who averages 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. Pickett is an excellent playmaker who can create opportunities for his teammates and knock down shots from beyond the arc.

Another key player for the Nittany Lions is sophomore forward Seth Lundy. Lundy averages 10.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and he is an excellent shooter from long range, knocking down 38.3% of his 3-point attempts this season. Lundy is also a solid defender, averaging 0.8 blocks per game.

On the defensive end, the Nittany Lions are solid but not exceptional. They gave up 68.9 points per game this season, which ranks 7th in the Big Ten. However, the Nittany Lions excel at shooting from beyond the arc, ranking 2nd in the Big Ten with a 39.0% 3-point shooting percentage.

Betting Trends

Penn State are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games.

Penn State are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games.

Penn State are 12-1 ATS in their last 13 games played in March.

The total has gone OVER in 5 of Penn State's last 6 games played on a Saturday.

Penn State are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games when playing as the underdog.

Texas are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Texas' last 6 games.

Texas are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.

The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas' last 5 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.

Prediction

This game promises to be a close one, but we believe that the Texas Longhorns will come out on top and cover the 5.5-point spread. The Longhorns have a more balanced team than the Nittany Lions, with strong players on both offense and defense. They also have more experience playing in high-pressure situations, which should give them an edge in the NCAA Tournament.

In addition, the Longhorns have a deeper bench than the Nittany Lions, which should allow them to rotate players and keep their starters fresh throughout the game. This could be crucial in the later stages of the game when fatigue starts to set in.

Finally, the Longhorns have been playing well lately, winning seven of their last ten games. They have also been playing tough opponents in the Big 12, which should prepare them well for the NCAA Tournament. On the other hand, the Nittany Lions have only won eight of their last ten games and have had some inconsistent performances this season.

Overall, we believe that the Texas Longhorns will win this game and cover the 5.5-point spread. They have a more balanced team, more experience in high-pressure situations, a deeper bench, and have been playing well lately. While the Nittany Lions are a talented team, we think that the Longhorns will be too much for them to handle.

March Madness is always full of surprises, and anything can happen in a single-elimination tournament. However, based on our analysis, we believe that the Texas Longhorns are the better team and will come out on top in this game.

PICK: Texas Longhorns -5 (-110)

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