NCAA Tournament Pick: West Region – Texas Tech vs. UNCW – Thursday, March 20, 2025

The 14th-seed UNCW Seahawks (27-7) take on the third-seed Texas Tech Red Raiders (25-8) when they meet in the West Region opening round of the Men’s Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 20 at 10:10 PM ET at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The Red Raiders are favorites with a point spread at -14.5 (-105) at MyBookie.

UNCW Seahawks Betting Preview

The Seahawks have been victorious in their last six games. They are coming off a 76-72 triumph against the Delaware Blue Hens in the CAA Championship.

Delaware made a big adjustment in the second half and actually had an opportunity to win. However, the Seahawks were resilient and closed it out late. Donovan Newby led with 17 points on 40.0 percent shooting and had four assists.

UNCW is averaging 79.4 points a game and they rank 52nd overall. Defensively, they allow 69.9 points per matchup which puts them at 116th on that end of the floor. This point differential is solid, but they must stay consistent on both ends of the floor.

The Seahawks rank 119th overall for their strength of schedule and winning margins. Per 100 possessions offensively, they rank 20th, while their defensive actions put them at 131st during the same timeframe. This shows a good separation and that they are solid on both ends of the floor.

Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Preview

The Red Raiders just had their four-game win streak snapped with an 86-80 loss to the Arizona Wildcats. This was part of the Big 12 Championship Semifinal, where injuries plagued the Red Raiders’ chances at winning.

Arizona had a 47-39 lead at the half and was able to coast along for the win. Having a squad short handed due to injuries is rough, which is likely what got them. They were led by Kevin Overton with 20 points and six rebounds.

Texas Tech averages 80.9 points per matchup, ranking 30th. On defense, they have given up 67.6 points per battle, which ranks 55th. This is a great spread and is more appealing since it was earned in a tough conference.

The Red Raiders rank seventh overall for their strength of schedule and winning point differentials. Their offensive efficiency per 100 possessions ranks eighth, while their defensive efficiency at the same rate ranks 74th. This offers an appealing opportunity for each matchup for them to win.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie has the best UNCW Seahawks vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders betting odds, showing the Red Raiders favored by 16.5 points. Market predictions suggest the Red Raiders have a 92.3 percent likelihood of winning. The Red Raiders are clearly the better team and have a good shot at covering the spread.

Final Pick: Texas Tech Red Raiders -14.5 (-105)