Tuesday College Basketball Betting Previews: Kansas-Texas, North Carolina-Georgia Tech

Winning on the road in college basketball is never easy, especially in a power conference.

But can Kansas pull off a victory at Texas? Or North Carolina at Georgia Tech?

Let's examine both matchups.

Betting Odds: Kansas Jayhawks at Texas Longhorns

• Spread: Kansas -1
• Over/Under: 139.5
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN

Kansas (16-4) enters Tuesday's matchup having lost two of its past three games. The Jayhawks are tied for first place in the Big 12 at 5-2, but are only 7-10-1 against the spread.

Texas (11-9) started the season 10-4 but has lost five of its past six games.  The trend is the same within the conference, where the Longhorns started 2-0 but are now 3-4 heading into this critical matchup. Texas is also just 3-8 at home ATS and 6-12 overall.

Other than West Virginia, the Longhorns have been the least impressive team in the Big 12. Their 3-4 conference record is extremely misleading.

They defeated Kansas State on Jan. 2, but the Wildcats were without Kamau Stokes and Dean Wade. After a home win over West Virginia, Texas lost four of its next five conference games, including at Oklahoma State.

In the Big 12/SEC Challenge, the Longhorns allowed a mediocre Georgia offense to score 98 points. And as team that prides itself on defense, the Longhorns rank only 215th in 3-point percentage allowed.

Texas also has poor offensive metrics across the board. The Longhorns rank 195th or worse in effective field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage.

Kansas is tied for first place in the Big 12 and already has a road win at Baylor. The Jayhawks already defeated Texas 80-78 at home on Jan. 15, and own a 10-game regular-season winning streak over the Longhorns.

The Jayhawks own the best effective field goal percentage and 2-point percentage in conference play, as well as the second-best 2-point defense.

In their first matchup with Texas, the Jayhawks shot a blistering 56.2% (18-of-32) from the field and 50% (11-of-22) from beyond the arc.

Texas fans will argue that the Longhorns are a desperate team that needs this win for its NCAA Tournament chances and to save Shaka Smart's job. But Kansas is statistically superior on both ends of the floor and also needs to keep pace with Kansas State and Baylor in the Big 12.

Take the Jayhawks in essentially a pick 'em game on the road at Texas.

THE PICK: Kansas -1

Betting Odds: North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

• Spread: UNC -8.5
• Over/Under: 150
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• TV: ACCN

North Carolina (15-4) has won three straight ACC games and sits at 5-1 in the conference. The Tar Heels have been particularly good on the road, winning all three conference games by an average of 14 points per game. They're also 11-5-2 overall ATS and a superb 6-1 on the road.

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech (11-9) has lost three of its last four games, including a 79-51 blowout loss at home to Louisville. The Yellow Jackets are 9-4 at home this season and 5-2 in Atlanta ATS.

Since the Dec. 22 loss to Kentucky, the Tar Heels have won seven of their past eight games. They have the 13th-best adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, per KenPom, and are shooting 37.5% from 3-point range.

Freshman Coby White (14.9 points per game) scored 27 points with five made 3-pointers in their 103-82 win over Virginia Tech. Senior forward Luke Maye (14.4 ppg) has averaged 14 points and eight rebounds in the Tar Heels' past three games.

Georgia Tech has survived the season by playing strong defense. The Yellow Jackets are 13th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, but they only rank fifth in defense within their conference games.

More importantly, their offense in ACC games has been atrocious. The Yellow Jackets rank last in turnovers, offensive rebounds and free throw shooting in their seven ACC games.

Georgia Tech struggles with explosive teams that defend at a high level. Against Louisville at home, the Yellow Jackets were down 43-16 at the half.

The best way to attack North Carolina is from beyond the arc, which Georgia Tech cannot do effectively. As a team, the Yellow Jackets shoot only 30.8% from 3-point range.

The Tar Heels' loss on Jan. 12 to Louisville was a result of injuries. Now healthy, North Carolina is playing the part of a Final Four team.

UNC will dominate the boards with its size advantage on the interior and continue its hot 3-point shooting despite being on the road. With comfortable road wins at Pittsburgh, N.C. State and Miami, winning at Georgia Tech won't be a problem.

Needing to keep pace with Duke, Virginia and Louisville in the ACC, the Tar Heels will easily beat the Yellow Jackets.

THE PICK: North Carolina -8.5