Louisiana Tech vs UTEP Prediction College Basketball Picks 1/2/25

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the UTEP Miners meet Thursday in college basketball action from the Don Haskins Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Louisiana Tech vs. UTEP prediction.

Louisiana Tech Recap

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs come into this game looking to build on a 108-60 win over subdivision Rust last time out to improve to 11-2 on the year. After this game, Louisiana Tech will head on the road for a matchup with New Mexico State.

Bulldogs Win 4th Straight

Daniel Batcho leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 20 PPG along with 6.8 RPG while Amaree Abram has 13.7 PPG with 4.8 RPG and Kaden Cooper has 12.8 PPG with a team-high 8.3 RPG to lead the Bulldogs on the glass and round out the trio of double-digit scorers for LA Tech so far this season. Al Green’s added 8.8 PPG while Sean Newman Jr. has added 9.8 PPG with a team-high 9.8 APG to lead the Bulldogs in assists so far this season. As a team, Louisiana Tech is averaging 80.5 PPG on 50.9% shooting from the field, 36.6% from three and 75.2% from the foul line so far this season.

Why the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs will win

• Louisiana Tech has won 11 of its last 12 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

UTEP Recap

The UTEP Miners come into this game looking to build on a 79-60 win over subdivision Northern New Mexico last time out to improve to 10-3 on the year. After this game, UTEP will welcome Sam Houston to town.

Miners Pick Up 4th Straight W

Otis Frazier III leads the Miners in scoring and assists with 13.6 PPG and 3.1 APG along with 4.5 RPG while Corey Camper Jr. has 11.9 PPG with 3.3 RPG and 2.6 APG along with 2.5 SPG as well. Ahamad Bynum has 11.8 PPG and Devon Barnes has 10.4 PPG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for UTEP up to this point in the year while Kevin Kalu has a team-high 5.5 RPG to lead UTEP on the glass this season. As a team, UTEP is averaging 74.5 PPG on 47% shooting from the field, 41% from three and 70.1% from the foul line this season.

Why the UTEP Miners will win

• UTEP has won each of its last eight games at Don Haskins Center.
• Louisiana Tech has lost each of its last six away games when playing with a rest advantage.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the last seven games between Louisiana Tech and UTEP have produced a total of 128 or fewer points.
• Each of Louisiana Tech’s last five night games have produced a total of 140+ points.

Louisiana Tech vs. UTEP Prediction

I’m on Louisiana Tech here. I said when I saw this game that I’d likely be on the side catching points and it just so happens that I like the edge that LA Tech has here. The Bulldogs are the better team on both ends of the floor and I don’t see UTEP breaking down LA Tech’s defense here despite a top-5 3-point shooting offense as Louisiana Tech is 55th in the country in terms of defending the three. Louisiana Tech is top-75 in allowing free throws, and that’s how a fair chunk of UTEP’s points come. My only concern is that UTEP forces a ton of turnovers and Louisiana Tech can be careless with the rock at times, but I still think the Bulldogs have enough to get the cover and potential outright win here.