Texas Basketball: 3 bold predictions in Big 12 opener vs. OK State

How will head coach Shaka Smart and No. 11 ranked Texas basketball show out in their de facto Big 12 opener on Dec. 20 at home against Oklahoma State?

It is nearly time for the Texas basketball program to tip off their Big 12 slate, after it was already supposed to happen one week ago. Texas was originally scheduled to open up Big 12 play on Dec. 13 on the road in Waco at the Ferrell Center against the No. 2 ranked Baylor Bears. Due to novel coronavirus related issues on the Baylor side, the game had to be delayed.

Now that head coach Shaka Smart and the Longhorns had their original Big 12 opener delayed, they open up the conference slate on Dec. 20 against head coach Mike Boynton and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. This young but talented Oklahoma State team already opened up their Big 12 slate earlier in the week.

Oklahoma State opened up their Big 12 schedule back on Dec. 16 at home at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater against the TCU Horned Frogs. The Pokes wound up falling short to TCU by the final score of 77-76. They now enter this game with a record of 6-1 (0-1 Big 12).

Meanwhile, the last game that the Longhorns played in resulted in a comfortable 79-63 win at home at the Frank Erwin Center over the Sam Houston State Bearkats back on Dec. 16. Texas now carries a record of 6-1 (0-0 Big 12) into this Big 12 opener against the Pokes.

The Longhorns enter this game as a seven-point favorite at home just around one hour ahead of tip off. And the ESPN matchup predictor (powered by the Basketball Power Index) gives Texas an 81.1 percent chance to win this game. Texas and Oklahoma State tip off at 1 p.m. CT at the Erwin Center on Dec. 20.

Here’s a look into three bold predictions as the Longhorns take on the Pokes on the hardwood on Dec. 20 to open up Big 12 play for the Texas side.