Kansas vs. Texas NCAA Basketball Picks and Odds Analysis (Archive)
Coming off wins over ranked teams this past weekend, neither the Kansas Jayhawks nor the Texas Longhorns had much time to celebrate as they head quickly back to the hardwood for a crucial Big 12 matchup on Monday’s sports betting card.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Texas Longhorns
Monday, February 7, 2022 – 9:00 PM EST at Frank Irwin Center
Kansas dropped five places in last week’s rankings, but the Jayhawks should be moving back up the charts as they head to Austin for this matchup with Texas. Bill Self’s bunch really rocked the chalk at home on Saturday when Kansas cruised past the No. 8 Baylor Bears to stretch their lead in the conference to a game-and-a-half heading into the final four weeks of the regular season.
Texas also beat the NCAA basketball odds with an impressive win over No. 20 Iowa State. The Longhorns went into Saturday’s contest with the Cyclones ranked No. 23 by the AP and No. 21 according to the coaches, and Chris Beard’s crew should also advance in the polls when they come out later on Monday. Texas is fourth in the Big 12 and trails Kansas by 2½-games.
KU’s Martin Expected to Miss Monday’s Game
This is one of the late games on Monday’s slate, and the best online books have it pegged as one of the closest affairs on the board. Kansas is currently lined as a 1-point favorite, some shops are just a nudge away from pushing that up to -1½. Playing the scoreboard will require a decision on a 134½-point total.
Baylor held a lead over Kansas for about 40 seconds on Saturday, and the Jayhawks were in control for the other 39:20 as they coasted to the 83-59 decision over the reigning national champs. Kansas was favored by a bucket or so, and at one point built a 34-point lead thanks to shooting better than 51% on the afternoon.
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Self’s squad did struggle a bit from 3-point range (5-20) and committed 17 turnovers, so it wasn’t all peaches and cream for the Jayhawks. Both efforts were well off-season numbers for a Kansas squad that shoots 36% from beyond the arc and turns it over 13 times a game. Kansas is also dealing with a couple of injuries that have upset the rotation, and Remy Martin is expected to be on the sidelines once again on Monday due to his bruised knee.
‘Horns Just 2-5 ATS Last Seven Trips to Floor
Favored by 8½ at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review) this past Saturday at home, the Longhorns were expected to enjoy their top 25 matchup with Iowa State. The first 20 minutes saw the two sides in a tight, physical scuffle with Texas taking a 25-23 lead into the locker room. Texas tightened its defensive pressure even more in the second half and eventually ran away in the contest for a 63-41 dubya.
Holding a team like Iowa State to 41 points went above and beyond the call of duty even for a Longhorn team that is tops in the nation in scoring defense (54.9 PPG). Texas limited the Cyclones to just 2-for-15 from beyond the arc, and a 28.6% success rate in field goals overall (14-49).
The victory came on the heels of a disappointing 77-64 setback in Lubbock on Tuesday. That matchup was the first time for Beard to return to the floor at Texas Tech where he coached for five seasons. The easy cover against Iowa State came after the Longhorns had failed to beat the spread in their three previous home games.
Both Teams Ranked for Third Straight Meeting
It will come as no surprise to anyone that Kansas has dominated Texas in the series, the Jayhawks owning a 35-11 advantage over the Longhorns with all but four of those matchups coming since the formation of the Big 12. Texas has held its own the past few seasons by splitting the last six matchups and even won both clashes a year ago. Both of last season’s contests went ‘over’ the betting odds after the previous four never reached the totals.
The matchup in Austin last February went to overtime before the Longhorns prevailed in a 75-72 final. Texas was favored by 3 to push the spread wagers. That final score had not reached a 138-point total in regulation, and the Longhorns escaped with their first season sweep of the Jayhawks since the 2003-04 campaign.
Kansas and Texas each showed what they were capable of on Saturday, and tonight’s game certainly has the potential to play like a conference final or Sweet 16 matchup. My free college basketball pick will be to get on the Jayhawks minus a point before the spread goes higher.
NCAAB Pick: Kansas -1.5 (-110) with Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.