For the Vols to have success in the tournament they really need to ramp up the defensive intensity and hope they get a somewhat favorable draw. The Volunteers are a boom-or-bust team that could make it to the Sweet 16 or lose in the first round.

The Cowboys didn’t look like a tournament team after starting 3-6 in the Big 12. But the perimeter-oriented Cowboys righted themselves starting in mid-February. They can be fun to watch because of their frenetic pace, and their 3-point shooting can keep them in games.

Tennessee is a slight 2-point favorite, but to be honest, it is a crapshoot.

Upset or no, OU still coughed up the cash to Mizzou despite 16 points and 21 rebounds from Blake Griffin. The Tigers compensated with 12 steals to five for the Sooners; OSU is also very good at hanging onto the ball and can definitely take advantage of Oklahoma’s questionable perimeter defense – the ‘Pokes are 39.5 percent from behind the arc. However, the Sooners (-2.5) won their first meeting 89-81 in Stillwater.

The Longhorns have the talent to pull out of their funk, but playing smarter is a must. They will enjoy a definite size advantage against the Cowboys, who typically surround forward Marshall Moses with four guards.

This game offers a great opportunity for a pair of struggling teams. The Longhorns are on a three-game losing streak, while the Cowboys have dropped five of their last seven.

Oklahoma State needs to be hitting the outside shot to win and lately that has been a big problem. Their 34.3 shooting from 3-point range in conference play ranks 10th in the Big 12. The home team is 8-3-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings. For the best in NCAA basketball betting head to the Bodog Sportsbook.

Remember when the Buffs dumped West Virginia (-2.5) in overtime 17-14 to start the year at 3-0 SU and 2-0 ATS? Colorado hasn’t covered since then. Their two Big 12 home wins against bad teams from Kansas State (+3) and Iowa State (+10.5) were by a combined five points. The chances of an ugly blowout at Folsom Field are high. ABC will drop in on the carnage at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Get your college football odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.

D.J. Augustin led the Texas Longhorns past Oklahoma State in Big 12 tournament action. (AP Images)

The Longhorns got a first-half scare but managed to fight back and beat Oklahoma State today in Kansas City. Texas advanced to the semifinal of the Big 12 tournament with its 66-59 victory over the Cowobys, who led 33-32 at halftime.

D.J. Augustin led the Longhorn attack with 23 points and 11 rebounds and helped his team score the first 14 points of the second half.

"We had to slow the whole team down," said Augustin. "We needed to get stops on defense and not let them get easy baskets. They have a lot of great players. I think we did a great job helping each other and playing pretty good defense."

At 17-15, the Cowboys don't seem to have much of a shot at an NCAA tournament bid. They might actually be lucky to make the NIT.

"I haven't thought about that," coach Eddie Sutton said. "Our total concentration was on winning this tournament. I felt like the way we've been playing, we'd need a good effort against Texas. But I thought we'd win the game."

Other Big 12 tournament scores and matchups:

• Oklahoma 54, Colorado 49
• Nebraska (+15) vs. Kansas, 7 PM ET
• Texas A&M (+2) vs. Kansas State, 9:30 PM ET

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines