Texas Basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. Sam Houston State

No. 11 ranked Texas basketball gets a home matchup where they can continue to build momentum on Dec. 16 against Sam Houston State.

After having their last game postponed in the wake of novel coronavirus-related issues on the side of the No. 2 ranked Baylor Bears, head coach Shaka Smart and No. 11 ranked Texas basketball are back in action on Dec. 16. On an action packed day around the Forty Acres, Texas men’s hoops will continue the festivities heading into the night of Dec. 16 (it was also the first day of the Early Signing Period on the same day).

Texas comes into this Dec. 16 showdown against the Sam Houston State Bearkats with a record of 5-1 (0-0 Big 12). They were supposed to play in their Big 12 opener on the road in Waco at the Ferrell Center on Dec. 13 against Baylor. But now the conference opener will come on Dec. 20 at home at the Erwin Center against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

This will now be the final non-conference game before Big 12 play tips off for the Longhorns. Texas is coming off a comfortable 74-53 win at home on Dec. 9 over the Texas State Bobcats. Meanwhile, Sam Houston State comes into this game with a record of 3-4.

According to the ESPN matchup predictor (based off the Basketball Power Index), Texas has a convincing 96.7 percent chance to win this game. Texas is also a whopping 28 point favorite over Sam Houston State. This should be a comfortable win for Texas, but sometimes it’s not that easy for Smart’s teams.

Here’s a look into three bold predictions as the Longhorns basketball team takes on Sam Houston State at home at the Frank Erwin Center on Dec. 16.