Kansas vs Baylor NCAA Hoops Pick

Posted by Henry Watkins on Monday,February 22, 2016 2:00, EDT in

The 25th-ranked Baylor Bears will look to ‘hold it down’ at home when they host the second-ranked Kansas Jayhawks in a meaningful Big 12 battle that will likely have a huge postseason implications for both national title hopefuls. Now, let’s find out which team is the best college basketball wager for this intriguing pairing.

How To Bet The Kansas Jayhawks vs. Baylor Bears NCAAB Odds & TV Info

When: 8:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Where: Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas
TV: ESPN2
Radio: KUAthletics
Live Stream: WatchESPN
NCAAB Odds: TBA

Why Bet The Kansas Jayhawks

No. 2 Kansas (23-4 SU, 17-8 ATS) has won and covered the spread in seven straight games including its 72-63 win at Kansas State on Saturday as a 4.5-point road favorite. Guard Frank Mason scored a game-high 16 points and was joined in double figures by forward Perry Ellis (14 points) and guard Wayne Selden with 12. Kansas used an overwhelming run late in the first half to open a double-digit they would never relinquish.

“We actually played really well for about 28 minutes and got up 17,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “Then we made some of the most bone-headed plays that let to fouls by (Jamari Traylor) and Landon (Lucas), and Perry was out. That was a makeshift lineup (late). But we had guys step up and make plays.”

The Jayhawks now hold a two-game lead in the Big 12 standings over Baylor, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

Why Bet The Baylor Bears

No. 25 Baylor (20-7 SU, 8-12 ATS) has won two straight and three of its last four games after spanking No. 24 Texas 78-64 on Saturday to cash in as a 5.5-point road dog. Bears’ forward Johnathan Motley scored a team-high 24 points and made his first 11 shots to lead Baylor to victory.

With Motley scoring 12 first half points, the Bears took a 40-22 lead into the half they would never relinquish. “I had no idea I had made my first 11 shots – I was just trying to take what Texas was giving me and keep playing hard,” Motley said. “I want to stay aggressive and attack the basket. My ability to stay out of foul trouble in recent games has allowed me to develop a better rhythm with my shot.”

The Bears shot an insane 62.7 percent in the contest and outscored Texas 26-8 in the paint while never trailing. “It was important for us to get the easy buckets and the stops we got early in the game – it gave us the momentum we needed,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “Texas made some really tough shots when they beat us at our place (on Feb. 1) and we made those types of shots today.”

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Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction

While no point spread has been set for this match up as of yet, I expect Kansas to be favored by about for or five points despite being on the road. Having said that, I’m also going to urge you to back the Jayhawks to get the win and narrow ATS cover, although I’m wary of a Baylor Bears team that has plenty of talent and a ton of revenge they want to extract.

Kansas has won six straight in the series while covering the spread in each of the last five meetings. The Jayhawks have won 11 of the last 13 meetings overall and is 7-2-1 ATS over the last 10 meetings. Kansas won all three meetings last season, including their 62-52 win in the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship Tournament.

The Jayhawks are a perfect 7-0 ATS in their last seven games, 6-0 ATS in their last six games following a straight up win and an encouraging 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games. While the Baylor Bears are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games against a team with a winning road record, they’re also just 1-5 ATS in their last half-dozen home games and a pitiful 1-8 ATS in their last nine home games against Kansas.

I like Kansas for the win, but it won’t be a blowout by any stretch of the imagination!

My final score prediction: Kansas 78 Baylor 74