Now is a good time to face the No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks (+1,400 to win the national title), as Bill Self’s team is limping due to the absences of their best frontcourt pieces. The Baylor Bears (+12,500 to win the national title) will look to capitalize on that this coming Saturday at home, though, beating the Jayhawks remain a tall task.
Betting on the Kansas Jayhawks (12-2 Overall / 1-1 Conference)
Things are suddenly harder for Kansas. For one, the Jayhawks are having personnel issues. Already without big man Silvio De Sousa because of eligibility issues, the team are now also missing another biggie in Udoka Azubuike for the rest of the season due to a wrist surgery. Azubuike’s absence was definitely felt by Kansas in its 77-60 road loss in Ames to the Iowa State Cyclones on Jan. 5. Before the Jayhawks face Baylor, they will have to meet the No. 25 TCU Horned Frogs at home on Wednesday. That’s a crucial outing for Kansas, as it could dictate the mentality of the team. A win would bolster thee Jayhawks’ confidence and belief in themselves that they could do it even without Azubuike. Key to the Jayhawks is the play of junior forward Dedric Lawson, who’s carrying a heavier load in the frontcourt. Lawson, who paces Kansas with 18.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, had a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds against the Cyclones.
Kansas is 8-2 straight up (SU) in its last 10 games as the road team against the Bears.
Betting on the Baylor Bears (9-5 Overall / 1-1 Conference)
Baylor did what the Jayhawks couldn’t on Tuesday, as the Bears took down the Cyclones at home, 73-70. Senior guard Makai Mason was scorching hot from long range against the Cyclones, as he went 4-for-9 from deep and finished with 25 points to go with three rebounds and three assists in the victory. But Baylor also did plenty of damage at the charity stripe, where they went 17-for-20 compared to Iowa State’s 7-for-8 stat line from the foul line. With Kansas lacking their best big men, the Bears should be able to take advantage of the Jayhawks’ looser interior defense. If they could get Lawson into an early foul trouble, the Bears will have the opportunity to feast on offense – and on the glass. Baylor should win the rebounding battle in this game because of Azubuike’s absence. Baylor is averaging 37.8 rebounds per game, good for third in the Big 12. The Bears are also second in the conference with 12.6 offensive rebounds per contest.
Baylor is 3-0 against the spread (ATS) in its last three home games.
