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The No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks (9-3, 0-1 Big 12) and the UCF Knights (10-2, 1-0) meet Sunday in a Big 12 conference clash. Tip-off at Additional Financial Arena is set for 4 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Kansas vs. UCF odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The Jayhawks are coming off a stunning 62-61 loss at home against the West Virginia Mountaineers on New Year’s Eve in the conference opener at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas is just 2-3 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in the past 5 outings. The Under has connected in 10 in a row for Kansas, and 11 of 12 games this season.
The Knights topped the Texas Tech Red Raiders 87-83 on the road in the league opener Tuesday, winning outright as a 14-point underdog. UCF has won 6 games in a row, while covering 3 in a row, while going 4-1 ATS in the past 5 outings. The Over has cashed in 3 straight games, too. Unlike Kansas, the Over is 8-2 in the past 10 outings.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
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Kansas at UCF odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated Saturday at 10:28 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Kansas -225 (bet $225 to win $100) | UCF +185 (bet $100 to win $185)
- Against the spread: Kansas -5.5 (-105) | UCF +5.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: 148.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Kansas at UCF picks and predictions
Prediction
Kansas 74, UCF 70
Moneyline
Kansas (-225) is a risky play costing more than 2 times your potential return.
This top-10 side just hasn’t been playing very good basketball lately, but you can expect C Hunter Dickinson and the Jayhawks to get well against a Knights defense which allows 74.8 points per game, while teams are hitting 42.4 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from behind the 3-point line vs. UCF (+185).
PASS.
Against the spread
UCF +5.5 (-115) is worth a look on its home floor catching nearly 3 buckets.
The Knights have been horrific defensively, but they have the offense to make some noise, too. While UCF isn’t a very good shooting team, it is a decent free-throw shooting side at 77.9%, which helps in close games.
Kansas is just 2-3 ATS in the past 5 games, and it has lost and failed to cover both of its only true road games at the Creighton Bluejays and the Missouri Tigers Dec. 4-8.
Over/Under
UNDER 148.5 (-110) is worth a look in this Big 12 battle in Orlando.
It has been all about the Under in games involving Kansas, cashing in 10 in a row. You just can’t bet against that kind of a streak.
The Under cashed in last season’s meeting in O-Town, the only previous meeting as Big 12 members. UCF won 65-60 as a 7-point underdog as the Under (145.5) easily cashed.
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