@KeepTheJuice21's CBB Best Bets - 2/16

What a week we’ve got in the Big 12. The conference might have 3 top 5 teams in the country fighting for the top seed in the tournament. And this matchup is about as big as it gets. The game should come down to the wire but everything we’ve seen from the Red Raiders so far this season says they can come out with the win at home. When the teams last met, Baylor was the undefeated #1 team in the country and TTU handed them a home loss. The momentum has now shifted and Texas Tech is the undefeated one (at home). Baylor would love to play spoiler but they don’t have the personnel to match up to Texas Tech’s deep roster.

Take the Raiders at home tonight.

Rutgers is a true Cinderella story this season. They’ve shocked 3 top Big Ten teams in a row with wins over Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State. They even beat Purdue earlier this year. But it should be catching up to them. They’re no longer a plucky upset, this team is only getting 4 points against the reigning conference champ and presumptive Big Ten Player of the Year. By this point Illinois shouldn’t be shocked by a competitive game. In their last matchup, Cofi Cockburn only managed 13 points on 4-8 shooting thanks to an impressive team defensive effort. Unfortunately Rutgers still lost by 35 points.

If Cockburn can manage to take over games like he has done lately, Rutgers will just be another victim. If not, the supporting cast has shown more than enough to give me confidence in this one.