The top two teams in the Big 12 will collide early this year, as the West Virginia Mountaineers face-off with the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence this coming weekend. Read on for more about this must-watch game.
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Betting Preview for the West Virginia Mountaineers vs Kansas Jayhawks College Basketball Game on January 4 2020
Where: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence
When: Saturday, January 4, 2020, 8:00 PM ET
Line: West Virginia Mountaineers (Odds) vs. Kansas Jayhawks (Odds) – view all NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (11-1 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
The Mountaineers have been making loud noises this season, notwithstanding their road loss to the St. John’s Red Storm last month. Since that setback, West Virginia has won four games in a row. The biggest fish they caught over that stretch was a 67-59 win over then-no.2 Ohio State Buckeyes last Sunday. The Mountaineers got a season-high production from freshman guard Miles McBride, who came off the bench and fired 21 points. But West Virginia’s defense also did its job, holding the Buckeyes down to only 31.3 percent shooting from the field. The Mountaineers had seven steals and five blocks and was fantastic in disrupting Ohio State’s offense. That’s not fresh news for those who’ve been following Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers. This season, the Mountaineers are ninth in defensive efficiency with just 87.5 points per 100 possessions allowed and fifth in the nation with opponents shooting just 35.9 percent from the floor.
The under is 5-0 in the Mountaineers’ last five games.
Betting on the Kansas Jayhawks (10-1 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
After a close 56-55 road loss to the Villanova Wildcats, the Jayhawks rebounded in a big way by scoring a 72-56 win in California over the Stanford Cardinals last Sunday. Despite a silent game for star big man Udoka Azubuike, the Jayhawks were able to fend off Stanford, mainly because of a concerted effort by their guards. Devon Dotson and Ochai Agbaji each had 14 points, while Isaiah Moss scored 17 points with four 3-pointers off the bench. Azubuike is averaging 13.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. His presence down low, especially in cleaning the glass, will be much needed by the Jayhawks against West Virginia, which is one of the best rebounding teams not only in the Big 12 but in the nation as well. Kansas’ offense will be a tough challenge for the Mountaineers, as the Jayhawks are 13th overall in offensive efficiency and fourth in effective field goal percentage (57.1). On defense, the Jayhawks are allowing 62.3 points per game.
The Jayhawks are 3-0 against the spread (ATS) over their last three games as the home team.
Writer’s Prediction
Kansas wins, 72-66.
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