Penn State squares off against Texas at 7:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 18 on CBS. The 2-seed Longhorns are spread favorites, with the 10-seed Nittany Lions to win the game on the moneyline. The point total for Penn State vs. Texas odds is set at .
In this article, we’ll dissect everything you need to know before placing a bet on these second round odds, including team matchups, key metrics, and the best available odds.
Penn State vs. Texas Odds
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Betting Market Overvaluing Longhorns?
Texas is certainly coming off a dominant win over Colgate in the Round of 64, shooting 13-of-23 from behind the arc. Perimeter efficiency wasn’t expected to be a strength for Rodney Terry’s team entering the season. However, the addition of New Mexico State transfer Sir’Jabari Rice — coupled with Tyrese Hunter refining his shot — has done the trick. The latter has also allowed Marcus Carr to play more off-ball, where he’s most explosive.
Nevertheless, the aforementioned Terry still remains a bit of a mystery on the big stage. As I noted in my bracket breakdown, the former Longhorns assistant coach has represented the lead man in the dance once — during Fresno State’s 2015-16 campaign. We’ve yet to see how Terry will handle in-game adjustments in a game of this magnitude. More likely than not, they’ll be needed against Penn State’s menacing spread offense.
- Read more: raw offense vs. defense stats for Penn State vs. Texas
Nittany Lions’ Torrid Shooting
Not only did Penn State deliver a 59.1% 3-point clip against Texas A&M in their first-round duel, resulting in a 17-point route, but it was also no fluke. Micah Strewsbury, a longtime Brad Stevens lieutenant, has strung together a team full of floor spacers around Second-Team All-American Jalen Pickett. Collectively, Penn State boasts the second-highest perimeter scoring rate nationally.
Plus, the Longhorns’ no-middle defense, which is designed to limit dribble penetration, allowed the fourth-highest 3-point scoring rate in Big 12 play. Even if Bucknell Andrew Funk misses more than two looks from deep this time around, look for Seth Lundy & Co. to exploit Texas’ defensive flaw — and potentially advance to the Sweet 16 in the process.
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Pennsylvania Sports Betting Promos
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