Texas at Kansas Odds, Betting Pick & TV Info

Posted by Michael Hunt on Thursday,January 19, 2017 9:29, EDT in

Last week, Kansas was No. 2 in both polls behind No. 1 and Big 12 foe Baylor. But the Bears lost, so presumably KU would rise to No. 1 the polls. Except Kansas stayed at No. 2 in the AP poll but did jump to No. 1 in the Coaches Poll. The Jayhawks should stay there after they beat a struggling Texas team on Saturday with live NCAA basketball odds available.

Texas at Kansas Odds, Betting Pick & TV Info

When: Saturday, Jan. 21, 2 PM ET
Where: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence
TV: CBS
Stream: CBSsports.com
Radio: Kansas / Texas
Opening NCAA Basketball Lines: Kansas favored by TBA

Why Bet On Texas?

The Longhorns (7-11) lost to No. 6 Baylor 74-64 on Tuesday. Freshman forward Jarrett Allen recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds and freshman guard Andrew Jones recorded 15 points and four rebounds for Texas. Senior forward Shaquille Cleare matched his career high with 14 points and added six rebounds for the Longhorns.

The Bears established a 42-31 lead early in the half, managing to hold a double-digit advantage down the stretch. UT trailed by as much as 21 points (68-47) with 5:51 left, but an 11-2 Texas run down the stretch trimmed the final margin to 10. Head coach Shaka Smart was critical of his team’s second-half effort.

“We didn’t do a good job getting back to the level of energy and fight we had to start the game,” Smart said. “I think some of that had to do with some plays on offense not going our way, but you go on the road and try to beat the No. 6 team in the country and you’re leading for the majority of the first half, you can’t worry about that stuff.”

Texas allowed 42 points in the paint and was completely decimated on the offensive glass — it lost that battle 17-7. It marked UT’s second consecutive contest against an AP Top 10 opponent (lost 74-72 to #10 West Virginia on Jan. 14). The Longhorns converted 18-of- 22 (.818) free throws, while Baylor hit 12-of-18 (.667) from the line.

Allen reached double figures in scoring for the fourth straight game and 12th time this season. He reached double figures in rebounds for the seventh time this season. Cleare hit double figures in scoring (14 points) for the sixth time this season (18 games) and eighth time in his UT career (51 games). Guard Kendal Yancy saw his first game action (10 minutes) since Dec. 30 at K-State. He had missed the previous four games due to a left ankle injury.

Why Bet On Kansas?

KU received 23 of 32 first-place votes this week to move to No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. It’s the 57th time KU is No. 1 in the Coaches Poll. In the AP poll, the Jayhawks received more first-place votes (32) than new-No. 1 Villanova (28), but the Wildcats edged KU in total poll points, 1,580 to 1,562. The Jayhawks have been ranked in each of the last 151 AP polls and 157 coaches’ polls dating back to the 2008-09 season, which are the longest active streaks in NCAA Division I, respectively.

The Jayhawks avoided an upset at Iowa State on Monday, 76-72. The Cyclones nearly erased KU’s 10-point lead with 1:57 remaining in the contest after a pair of 3-pointers from Nazareth Mitrou-Long and Monte Morris cut KU’s lead to three points with 14 seconds remaining. Junior guard Devonte’ Graham put ISU at arm’s length by making a free throw with 12 seconds remaining and giving KU a four-point lead, 76-72. Kansas was able to muster up one last defensive stop to remain unbeaten in league play.

The Jayhawks improved to 17-1 and 6-0 in Big 12 play after shooting 55 percent from the field and out- rebounding Iowa State, 41-24. Senior guard and national player of the year candidate Frank Mason III led the Jayhawks with 16 points, while Graham dished out eight assists. Senior center Landen Lucas scored 14 points to set the tone for a season-high 54 team points in the paint for the Jayhawks. Kansas went 2-for- 5 at the free throw line on Monday. It marked the fewest free throws made and free throws attempted as a team for KU since making 2-of- 4 shots from the charity stripe at Texas Tech on Jan. 20, 2007.

Kansas is 17-1 or better for the sixth time in the Bill Self era and first since the 2012-13 season, when the Jayhawks went 19-1. Kansas is 6-0 in Big 12 play for the 10th time in the 21-year history of the league. KU’s 17th-straight win ties for the fourth-longest winning streak during the Self era.

Texas at Kansas Betting Pick: Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas beat Texas twice last year and this one shouldn’t be close so give the points. UT has never beaten the nation’s No. 1 team, which is hard to believe.