The No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks (23-4, 12-2 Big 12) and No. 11 Baylor Bears (23-5, 11-4) clash in a top-15 tussle Saturday in Waco, Texas. The contest at the Ferrell Center is slated to tip off at 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Kansas vs. Baylor odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Kansas has won four in a row and six of its last seven. The Jayhawks have logged a robust 52.7% shooting mark from the floor (and a 37.4% figure from 3-point range) over the seven games. The second win in that stretch came against this Baylor squad (Feb. 5).
The Feb. 5 setback marked the first of two this month for the Bears (Feb. 16 at Texas Tech). Baylor nearly lost a third February game Monday at Oklahoma State. BU overcame an iffy shooting performance to down the Cowboys, 66-64, in overtime.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Kansas at Baylor 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 8:35 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Kansas +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Baylor -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Kansas +3.5 (-112) | Baylor -3.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 149.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Kansas at Baylor odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Baylor 75, Kansas 73
Money line
Any profit here looks to be buried between these prices. STEER CLEAR.
Against the spread
The Bears are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six efforts against foes playing .600 basketball. In this series, the underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings, and the road team is 24-10-1 ATS in the last 35 meetings.
A banged-up Baylor squad prefers playing opponents that rely more on the outside shot. Kansas makes its bones in and around the paint, and they have a match-up advantage in that area in this contest. The Jayhawks lost similar road games at Texas Tech (Jan. 8), at Kentucky (Jan. 29) and at Texas (Feb. 7). But the way Kansas played in that game at UT should give it confidence to hang close in this test in Waco.
The Jayhawks have been a profitable play of late, going 5-2 ATS in their last seven.
TAKE KANSAS +3.5 (-112).
Over/Under
The Jayhawks have been sharp on defense of late, and that includes a great defensive effort against this BU team. The Bears — likely to compensate for some missing productive players (G LJ Cryer, F Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua) — have dialed there pace back in recent weeks.
The lean is on the UNDER 149.5 (-108), but its a slight lean.
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