Kansas Jayhawks vs. Oklahoma Sooners NCAAB Preview
Where: Donald L. Tucker Center – Tallahassee, Florida
When: Tuesday, January 10, 2017 – 9:00 PM ET
Line: Kansas Jayhawks (-11) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (+11) – view all NCAA basketball lines
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Betting on the Kansas Jayhawks (14-1, 3-0 Big 12)
Point Spread: -11
It’s been smooth sailing for the Jayhawks since bowing to the Hoosiers in OT, 103-99, in their season-opener. They have now racked up 14 straight consecutive victories, while also recording an average winning margin of 17 points.
A big reason for that is the mixture of five-star freshman Josh Jackson to the team’s two experienced leaders – senior Frank Mason (19.9 PPG, 5.7 APG) and junior Devonte’ Graham (13 PPG, 4.6 APG). Jackson is proving to be a do-it-all swingman, putting up 15.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
With those three, Kansas is ranking 13th in the nation in points (86.7 PPG), fifth in shooting (51.2 percent), and fourth in offensive efficiency.
As for the team’s defense, although Kenpom.com only have them rated 27th, they have shown effective D. They are only allowing opponents to score 69.7 PPG on a horrid 40.1 percent shooting.
Against an inferior team like Oklahoma, the aforementioned trio should be able to continue leading the charge. Expect them to test the defense right away. In their two game against the Sooners last season, Graham netted 24.5 PPG on 56-percent shooting, while Mason was at 14.5 PPG, 6 RPG, and 4.5 APG.
Kansas is 5-1 in their last six games against Oklahoma (4-2 ATS).
Betting on the Oklahoma Sooners (6-8, 0-3 Big 12)
Point Spread: +11
The loss of Buddy Hield and Isaiah Cousins are finally hitting the Sooners hard. After a respectable 6-2 start, they have now dropped six straight, four of which had them only shooting at an abysmal 37 percent from the field.
It is also extra alarming that in the previous loss, where they shot 52 percent, Kansas State still bounced them easily, 75-64, and were playing catch-up for the whole game.
Aside from being inefficient in their attempts, they are also falling short in getting scoring support from the rest of the team. Leading scorer Jordan Woodard (17.6 PPG) and first-time starter Christian James (10.9 PPG) are the only two guys in the roster that are averaging double digits.
Over at the defense, nothing also stands out. They may allow a below-average shooting percentage (42.8 percent), but it doesn’t really mean anything if they themselves are just as awful.
With that, Sports-Reference.com has the Sooners way down to the 211th place in offensive rating and 136th in defensive rating, both of which were 50-plus places down from last year’s.
Woodard posted 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in his two games against the Jayhawks last season.
Oklahoma has lost three straight games at home (0-3 ATS).
Writer’s Prediction
Kansas (-11) wins, 89-78.
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