The Kansas Jayhawks (27-6) face the Texas Tech Red Raiders (25-8) Saturday in the Big 12 Tournament Final. Tip-off from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City is at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we look at the Kansas vs. Texas Tech odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The 6th-ranked Jayhawks have been impressive squashing the opposition in Kansas City so far. KU belted West Virginia in the quarters by an 87-63 win as 9.5-point favorites Thursday. They followed that up with an impressive victory against TCU, 75-62, in the semifinals.
The 14th-ranked Red Raiders pounded Iowa State Thursday by a 72-41 before escaping against Oklahoma Friday in a 56-55 near-miss. The Under cashed in each game in the tourney so far for TTU.
These teams split the regular-season series, with the Red Raiders winning 75-67 Jan. 8 in Lubbock as 7-point ‘dogs as the OVER hit, before the Jayhawks won 94-91 in overtime Jan. 24 as the OVER again came in.
See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
Kansas vs. Texas Tech 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 at 8 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Kansas -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Texas Tech +110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Kansas -1.5 (-120) | Texas Tech +1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 134.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Kansas vs. Texas Tech odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Kansas 73, Texas Tech 66
Money line
KANSAS (-135) is a good play in this decisive third matchup of the season. Both teams won on their home courts during the regular season. This will be a home game for all intents and purposes, with Allen Fieldhouse just a 35-to-40-minute drive to Kansas City.
Against the spread
KANSAS -1.5 (-120) is slightly cheaper, and all it has to do is win by a bucket. That should be do-able in this title game. The Red Raiders have been impressive at 5-0 ATS in the past five as an underdog, although they’re just 3-7 ATS in the past 10 neutral-site battles.
On the flip side, the Jayhawks have cashed in six of the past eight games as favorite, while going 6-1 ATS in the past seven following a straight-up victory. Back Kansas to cover and hoist the hardware.
Over/Under
The OVER 134.5 (-110) is the lean in this title game.
While the Under is 4-1 in the past five for Kansas, the Over is 9-3-1 in the past 13 for KU in neutral-site games, while going 9-3 in the past 12 against winning sides.
For Texas Tech, the Over has connected in nine of the previous 12 games against teams with a winning overall record, for which Kansas certainly qualifies.
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