The Texas Tech Red Raiders (13-7) visit the Kansas Jayhawks (17-3) Saturday afternoon for a 4 p.m. ET tip-off in a Big 12 battle at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. We analyze the Texas Tech-Kansas odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.
Texas Tech at Kansas: Three things you need to know
1. The Jayhawks, ranked third in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll, have won five straight games and eight of their last nine. A staunch Kansas defense has held opponents to 60 or fewer points in eight of those nine games. Over that stretch, the Jayhawks have held foes to a 37% field-goal percentage while rebounding at an average margin of plus-5.
2. Texas Tech F Kevin McCullar is questionable (concussion) for this one. McCullar is TTU’s third-leading rebounder. Kansas already has a substantial rebounding edge in the game, and the Red Raiders can ill-afford a big-man injury and/or foul trouble.
3. The Red Raiders were at home their last two games. Texas Tech is 0-3 ATS the last three times they have played away from home after multiple games in Lubbock.
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Texas Tech at Kansas: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:45 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Kansas 70, Texas Tech 61
Moneyline (ML)
Kansas (-455) is a line with some value baked in. Kansas can score in such a variety of ways — from 24 feet and in and including uncontested 15-footers — and some computer ratings give the Jayhawks a 12-to-16-point edge in this late-afternoon tilt at Allen Fieldhouse. An expected slow pace favors the talent on the floor, and in that department, Kansas is loaded.
Take the -455 here with the value being that the Jayhawks have an 82% chance to win outright by any total.
Against the Spread (ATS)
The Red Raiders are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight road games against a team with a winning home record. Texas Tech is 2-6 ATS over their last eight games following a straight-up win.
KANSAS (-8.5, -115) is worth a line watch in conjunction with the above. The ATS number had some fluidity early. If it goes down to 8-or-lower, some half-and-half action is advisable.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Under is 14-5 when Kansas is favored and 6-4 in TTU games against winning teams. The UNDER 131.5 (-110) is a respectable number, though. There isn’t enough projectable leeway south of that figure to allow for some profit margin.
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