Is #1 Kansas A Winning Pick For 2017 NCAA Championship?

If you’re thinking about betting on the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks (28-3 SU, 11-17-1 ATS) and you want to know whether the nation’s No. 1 team is worthy of a wager to win the 2017 national championship, then you’re in luck!

Thanks to the expert basketball insight you’re going to get on the Jayhawks, you’re going to find out just how legit Kansas’ chances of winning it all this season really are. Now, let’s get started with the latest college basketball point spreads.

Is No. 1 Kansas A Winning Pick For 2017 NCAA Championship?

National Championship Odds

Kansas 13/2

The Good

The Jayhawks have ripped off eight straight wins heading into the Big 12 championship tournament, so they’ve clearly got momentum going in their favor. Kansas also ranks a fantastic 18th in scoring nationally (82.7 ppg), 14th in field goal percentage (48.8%) and a stellar sixth in three-point shooting percentage (40.8%).  Last but not least, the Kansas Jayhawks also have Player of the Year candidate in point guard Frank Mason III (20.5 ppg) and one of the nation’s best head coaches in Bill Self.

The Bad

Kansas may be the nation’s top-ranked team, but there is a bit of bad news about the Jayhawks this season. While Kansas may be elite at the offensive end of the floor, they’ve been just so-so at the other end of the floor while ranking an unimpressive 176th in points allowed (72.0 ppg) and an even more discouraging 223rd in three-point field goal defense (35.7%).

In addition to that, outside of Mason III, the Jayhawks have just two more players that averaged double figures in scoring in guards Josh Jackson (16.4 ppg) and Devonte’ Graham (13.2 ppg) and I believe that lack of sharing the wealth could come back to bit them against a deeper, equally talented team.

The Bottom Line

I like the Jayhawks a lot, but they certainly didn’t play the toughest non-conference schedule around with only one nationally-ranked opponent on this season’s schedule (Duke). While I believe the Jayhawks could very well reach the Final Four, I’m thinking that’s as far as they will go this March Madness at best and they could be looking at an Elite Eight appearance at best if they face a really tough opponent.