Texas Tech Red Raiders vs West Virginia Mountaineers Picks and Predictions for Sunday February 8 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 02/08/2026, 12:50 AM ET

The Texas Tech Red Raiders travel to Morgantown to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers on Sunday afternoon at the WVU Coliseum, with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 PM ET. This Big 12 matchup will be televised on FOX. At the time of this writing, the moneyline odds were not released. The total is set at 136.5 points, while Texas Tech enters the game as a 4.5-point road favorite. For additional breakdowns across the board, be sure to check out our free college basketball picks before making your selections.

Texas Tech Trying to Regain Momentum on the Road

Texas Tech comes into this contest with a 16-6 overall record and a 6-3 mark in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders have dropped two straight games, most recently losing to Kansas and UCF, but prior to that they picked up impressive wins over Houston, Baylor, and BYU. That stretch shows a team capable of playing at a high level against quality competition, even away from home.

From a statistical standpoint, Texas Tech averages 82.9 points per game while allowing 74.0. They shoot 47% from the field and pull down 37.7 rebounds per contest, giving them solid balance offensively. Their assist numbers sit at 16.1 per game, reflecting an offense that emphasizes ball movement rather than isolation scoring.

One area where Texas Tech stands out is its ability to control the pace. The Red Raiders don’t rely heavily on turnovers, but they are efficient in half-court sets and take care of the basketball. With 6.4 steals per game, they can still apply pressure defensively when needed, especially against teams that struggle to score consistently.

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West Virginia Leaning on Defense at Home

West Virginia enters Sunday with a 15-8 overall record and a 6-4 conference mark. The Mountaineers are coming off a gritty road win at Cincinnati and have also picked up recent victories over Kansas State and Arizona State, though they’ve mixed in losses to Baylor and Arizona. That inconsistency has been a theme, particularly against stronger offensive teams.

Offensively, West Virginia averages just 70.3 points per game, but their defense has kept them competitive. They allow only 63.3 points per contest, one of the better defensive marks in the conference. The Mountaineers shoot 45% from the field and average 35.2 rebounds per game, relying more on efficiency than volume scoring.

Defensively, West Virginia prefers to slow games down and force opponents into tough shots. While they average just 2.6 blocks and 6.2 steals per game, their team defense and physicality often disrupt offensive rhythm. At home, that defensive style becomes even more effective, especially in lower-scoring environments.

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs West Virginia Mountaineers Pick

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs West Virginia Mountaineers Spread Pick

Pick: Texas Tech Red Raiders -4.5

Texas Tech’s offensive efficiency gives them an edge in this matchup. While West Virginia’s defense is strong, the Mountaineers’ lack of scoring punch makes it difficult to keep pace if they fall behind. I expect Texas Tech to do just enough offensively to separate late and cover the number.

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs West Virginia Mountaineers Total Pick

Pick: Under 136.5

I’m on the under here because West Virginia will try to dictate tempo and grind this game down. With both teams capable defensively and West Virginia struggling to score in bunches, this sets up as a lower-scoring Big 12 battle.

Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 71, West Virginia 64

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