Cincinnati (18-13) vs West Virginia (9-22)
Game Info: Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 3:00 pm (T-Mobile Center)
Betting Odds: Cincinnati -10.5 - Over/Under: 144.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Cincinnati Bearcats and the West Virginia Mountaineers will meet in the first round of the Big 12 Championship this Tuesday in Kansas City from the T-Mobile Center on ESPN+. Cincy comes in as 10.5-point favorites, with the total hovering 144.5. Stay tuned for our West Virginia vs Cincinnati Prediction.
West Virginia Preview: Will the Mountaineers Show a Pulse?
West Virginia finished at 9-22 after falling to Cincinnati on the road, 92-56. The Mountaineers fell apart after the break, and they’ll try to avoid a similar result here in Kansas City. WVU is scoring 69.3 points per game, on 42.6% shooting, while allowing 76.4 ppg, and they’re 6-4 over their previous ten games.
WVU Team Profile
- Veteran guard Raequan Battle has cooled off after a hot start in conference play, but he still leads WVU in scoring at 15.2 ppg.
- Former Syracuse center Jesse Edwards returned with a 25-point double-double in the win over Cincy, and he leads West Virginia in rebounding (8.4), while scoring 15.0 ppg.
- Iona transfer Quinn Slazinski hasn’t shot well over the past two games, but he’s still averaging a solid 13.0 ppg.
- Senior guard Kerr Kriisa went for a team-high 23 points in the BYU matchup, and he leads WVU in assists (4.6), while scoring 11.2 ppg.
More College Basketball Picks: Louisville vs NC State Prediction!
Cincinnati Preview: Can the Bearcats Replicate Their Blowout?
Cincinnati closed at 18-13 after defeating West Virginia at home, 92-56. The Bearcats blitzed the Mountaineers in the second half, and they’ll look to apply the same pressure this Tuesday in KC. Cincinnati is scoring 74.8 points per game, on 44.5% shooting, while allowing 67.8 ppg, and they’re 6-4 over their previous ten games.
Cincinnati Team Profile
- Junior forward Viktor Lakhin has flirted with double-doubles in back-to-back games, scored and he leads Cincy in scoring (13.6) and rebounding (8.5).
- Veteran guard Day Day Thomas has reached double figures in four of the last six games, and he’s up to 11.4 ppg.
- Sophomore guard Dan Skillings Jr. poured in a season-high 29 points in the win over Stetson, and he’s averaging 11.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg.
West Virginia vs Cincinnati Trends
- Cincy leads the current series, 10-8, after splitting this year’s meetings..
- WVU is 12-18-1 against the spread, with a 16-14-1 O/U record
- CIN is 15-15-1 ATS, with a 15-15 over/under record.
West Virginia vs Cincinnati Prediction
Our best hope of a contested opening round battle is if Bob Huggins comes out for this one, as one of his former teams has completely missed the mark this season, while the other has managed to bring some fight in their first season in the conference. The regular season finale was embarrassing for WVU, but it fits the trend of their messy season, and Cincy may end up putting it on them again here in KC. Expecting another 30-point blowout would be a lot, but let’s bank on Cincinnati remaining locked in here against West Virginia this Tuesday
Corey’s Pick Cincinnati TO COVER
AUTHOR: Corey Ghee
Mitch's Take...
