NCAA Picks: Texas Tech vs Utah State 3/19/21 College Basketball Picks, Odds, Predictions

The Texas Tech Red Raiders battle the Utah State Aggies Friday in college basketball NCAA Tournament action as March Madness begins from Bloomington Assembly Hall. 

Utah State enters this NCAA Tournament First Round matchup at 20-8 overall. The Aggies are 6-1 in their last seven outings and coming off a loss to San Diego State. As for Texas Tech, they’re 17-10 this year. The Raiders have lost consecutive games to Baylor and Texas. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Utah State really only had one bad stretch this season, going 2-4 over a six-game stretch (and a postponement pause) in January and February. Since then the Aggies have gone 6-1, taking out Nevada, Wyoming, Fresno State, UNLV and Colorado State before a loss to SDSU. 

In the 68-57 loss to San Diego State last weekend, Utah State’s Neemias Queta put up 18 points with six rebounds to lead the team. Justin Bean added 12 points with six rebounds and one assist, and Rollie Worster chipped in eight points with four rebounds and four assists. 

Over on the Texas Tech side, they kicked off their year on a solid 14-5 clip before hitting a three-game losing streak in February. The Red Raiders then won three straight over Texas, TCU and Iowa State before falling in consecutive outings to Baylor and Texas. 

In the 67-66 loss to Texas, Texas Tech’s Terrence Shannon topped the team with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists. Kevin McCullar added 11 points with four rebounds, and Marcus Santos-Silva had 10 points with nine rebounds. 

The Aggies are 5-1 ATS in their last six neutral-site games and 19-9 ATS in their last 28 Friday games. Utah State is 2-5 ATS in their last seven after a straight-up loss and 1-5 ATS in their last six NCAA Tournament games. 

Meanwhile, the Raiders are 5-1 ATS in their last six NCAA Tournament games and 6-16 ATS in their last 22 overall. Texas Tech is 1-5 ATS in their last six neutral-site games and 1-5 ATS in their last six after an ATS loss. 

PICK: I like Utah State in this one. You could probably make a pretty good case either way, though. The Aggies had been scoring pretty well leading up to their tournament loss to San Diego State, notching 70 or more points in six of eight games. Texas Tech is probably going to be in control for the most part here, but I think the Aggies have enough gas to keep in range for a cover. Should be a fun game.