Texas basketball vs. Miami: Opening odds for Elite Eight

After a commanding 12-point win over the three-seed Xavier Musketeers and head coach Sean Miller in the Sweet 16 Midwest Region on March 24, interim head coach Rodney Terry and the two-seed Texas basketball are off to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2008. Texas will have another intriguing matchup ahead in the Elite Eight with the five-seed Miami Hurricanes and longtime head coach Jim Larranaga.

Terry and the Longhorns come into this matchup against the Hurricanes sporting a record of 29-8 (12-6 Big 12) following their 83-71 win over Xavier in the Sweet 16 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO, on March 24. Texas has now won seven games in a row heading into the Elite Eight.

Meanwhile, Miami comes in with a record of 28-7 (15-5 ACC) after a convincing 89-75 win over the one-seed Houston Cougars in the Sweet 16 on March 24. This is the second straight appearance for Miami in the Elite Eight.

Here’s a look at the opening betting odds as the two-seed Texas gets set to face the five-seed Miami at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on March 26, with the tip-off time set for 4:05 p.m. CT.

Texas basketball vs. Miami: Opening odds for Elite Eight Midwest Region

Texas opens up as a 3.5-point favorite over Miami (per FanDuel).

This is the same opening line that Texas had for the Xavier game in the Sweet 16.

According to Kenpom, Texas has a 68 percent chance of beating Miami. And Kenpom projects Texas to beat Miami 79-74.

Texas vs. Miami series history

This will be the fourth time that Texas and Miami have squared off in each program’s history on the hardwood. Texas won the last meeting between these two teams, which came in the NCAA Tournament in 2008 (the last time the Longhorns made it to the Elite Eight).

Texas also owns the all-time edge in the three meetings with Miami on the hardwood, with a record of 2-1.

This will also be the first Big 12 opponent that Miami has faced this season. Texas has yet to face a team out of the ACC this season either.

If Texas is able to top Miami in this Elite Eight matchup on March 26, it will face the winner of the matchup between the three-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs and four-seed UConn Huskies in the Final Four. The last time Texas made it to the Final Four was in 2003 when it fell short of the eventual National Champion Syracuse Orange and star forward Carmelo Anthony.