The No. 10 seed Miami Hurricanes (26-10) play the top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks (31-6) Sunday in the Elite Eight of the Midwest Region. Tip-off from United Center is set for 2:20 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we look at the Miami vs. Kansas odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Hurricanes punched their ticket into the Elite Eight by storming past 11th-seeded Iowa State 70-56 Friday, covering as 3.5-point favorites. Miami is 3-0 against the spread (ATS) in the tourney, including winning as outright underdogs in its first two games. The Hurricanes beat No. 7 seed USC 68-66 in the first round as 2-point dogs and upset second-seeded Auburn 79-61 as 6.5-point underdogs in the second round.
Kansas held off No. 4 seed Providence in a 66-61 victory in the Sweet 16 Friday but failed to cover as a 7-point favorite. The Jayhawks are 0-3 ATS in the tourney. They dominated 16th-seeded Texas Southern 83-56 in the first round as 21.5-point favorites, and they got past No. 9 seed Creighton 79-72 in the second round as 13.5-point favorites.
This is Miami’s first Elite Eight appearance in program history. Until Friday’s win, the ‘Canes were 0-3 all time in Sweet 16 games, including 0-2 since head coach Jim Larranaga took over the program in 2012. Kansas is making its ninth Elite Eight appearance under 19-year head coach Bill Self. The Jayhawks won the national title in 2008.
While Kansas is No. 3 in the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports, Miami is unranked.
Miami vs. Kansas odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 7:23 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Miami +205 (bet $100 to win $205) | Kansas -260 (bet $260 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Miami +5.5 (-108) | Kansas -5.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 147.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
[tipico]
Miami vs. Kansas odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Kansas 78, Miami 65
Money line
PASS.
The Jayhawks (-260) should advance to their first Final Four since 2018, but the price is out of my range. Kansas will win because it has edges in size, experience, coaching and continuity.
Furthermore, I don’t trust Miami’s defense to make key stops. The Hurricanes rank 283rd in defensive effective field-goal shooting (eFG%) and 271st in defensive-rebounding rate, according to KenPom.com.
On the other hand, Kansas’ offense ranks 31st in eFG% and 35th in offensive-rebounding rate. Even if the Jayhawks have an off-shooting night, they can still get second-chance points and attack a Hurricanes defense that ranks 299th in 2-point shooting percentage.
Against the spread
BET KANSAS -5.5 (-112) for 1 unit because of its aforementioned strength-on-weakness edges in eFG% and rebounding.
Also, nearly two-thirds of the cash is on Miami +5.5 (-107), according to Pregame.com, but the line hasn’t budged off the opener. I don’t mind fading Miami since “public dogs have fleas.” It’s rare when the House needs the much better team to cover the spread since the public typically bets favorites.
On top of that, Miami received zero points from its bench in its Sweet 16 win, and Kansas’ starting 5 is far superior. If Miami gets into foul trouble, this game could spiral on the Hurricanes.
TAKE KANSAS -5.5 (-112) to cruise past Miami.
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 147.5 (-115) since the oddsmakers are trying to entice bettors into taking the cheaper Over price.
The Under has cashed in Miami’s last 4 NCAA Tournament games and Kansas is 2-6 O/U in the last 8 games versus teams with a 60.0% or better winning percentage.
That said, I’m much more confident in Kansas’ spread than the UNDER 147.5 (-115).
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