Line on the Kansas vs. Kansas State Game at Jayhawks -4
Carrie Stroup here with your line on the Kansas vs. Kansas State game, which was -4 Jayhawks. This game goes off February 13, 2012 and can be wagered on LIVE. You can find all the latest Men’s College Basketball betting odds here at Sportsbook.com, offering up to $250 in FREE CASH based on your initial deposit.
KANSAS JAYHAWKS (20-5) at KANSAS STATE WILDCATS (17-7)
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Kansas -4 & 135.5
Opening Line & Total: Jayhawks -3 & 137
No. 4 Kansas takes on in-state rival Kansas State in a key Big 12 matchup on Monday night.
The Jayhawks are coming off a stellar week of basketball, dominating Baylor 68-54 in Waco before breezing by Oklahoma State at home, 79-66. Kansas has shot 48% FG or better in eight of its past 11 games, and is connecting on 52% of its shots in its past four contests. The Wildcats have not surpassed 70 points in seven straight games, going 1-4 ATS over the past five contests. And despite Bramlage Coliseum being a tough venue for most opponents, the Jayhawks have had virtually no trouble winning in Manhattan, going 12-2 SU (11-3 ATS) in the past 14 meetings.
PF Thomas Robinson (18.1 PPG, 12.1 RPG) has led the Jayhawks all season, and he’s currently working on a four-game, double-double streak (21.0 PPG, 13.8 RPG). Another Kansas big man has also been playing out of his mind. C Jeff Withey (9.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.2 BPG) is coming off a monster week, scoring 43 points, grabbing 25 rebounds and blocking 10 shots in the two victories. PG Tyshawn Taylor (16.8 PPG, 5.1 APG) has been consistently good all season, with at least a dozen points in each of his past 10 games. He has turned the ball over more than he would like (15 TO in past four games), but Taylor has made more than half of his field goals in seven of his past eight contests. When these teams met on Jan. 4 in Lawrence (a 67-49 KU win), SG Travis Releford (9.2 PPG) was arguably the top performer for Kansas with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Robinson had his typical 15 points and 14 boards, but committed four of the team’s 19 turnovers in that meeting. Taylor had eight turnovers in the win over KSU, something he cannot afford to do on the road Monday night.
Kansas State has to be kicking itself after blowing a 15-point lead at Texas on Saturday and losing 75-64. The Wildcats sent the Longhorns to the foul line 48 times, including 22 made free throws in the second half alone. Freshman G Angel Rodriguez (7.7 PPG) led the ‘Cats with 15 points in the defeat. KSU shot a dismal 32% FG (5-of-20 threes) and 8-of-16 FT in the loss at Kansas last month. F/G Rodney McGruder (15 points) and F Jamar Samuels (12 points) were the only Wildcats to score more than seven points against the Jayhawks. McGruder (team-high 14.6 PPG) has been pretty cold lately, scoring just 9.3 PPG on 13-of-42 FG (31%). Samuels (9.6 PPG) has been in major foul trouble in his past three games, amassing more fouls (13) than points (12). G Will Spradling has three straight games of 10+ points, averaging 13.3 PPG in this span. Spradling has been a perfect 17-of-17 from the foul line in these three contests.
SYRACUSE ORANGE (25-1, 12-1 Big East) at LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (20-5, 8-4 Big East)
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Syracuse -3 & 139
Opening Line & Total: Orange -3.5 & 137.5
Syracuse has been nearly unstoppable with sophomore center Fab Melo in the lineup this year, but the Orange will face their toughest road test of the season when they visit Louisville on Monday night.
The lone loss of the season for Syracuse came in a 67-58 road defeat to Notre Dame—one of three games played without Melo. The Orange have won five in a row since (3-2 ATS), and are an impressive 6-1 ATS in road games this season. After squeaking out a 64-61 overtime victory over Georgetown on Wednesday, ‘Cuse needed to shoot 63% from three-point range (10-for-16) to eventually pull away from UConn on Saturday. The Cardinals have won six straight (SU and ATS) and look to be gaining more confidence with every game. After suffering some key injuries early in the season, Louisville’s offense is really clicking at home, averaging 74.1 PPG at the KFC Yum! Center compared to just 67.0 PPG on the road. If this feels like a trap game for Syracuse, that’s probably because it is—the Big East has not had a team finish with just one loss in conference play since UConn went 17-1 in 1995-96. And as great as the Orange’s record is, they have not played their best basketball the past two games.
The Cardinals erased a seven-point halftime deficit to come back and grab a big 77-74 road win over West Virginia on Saturday. Heralded freshman Wayne Blackshear played in his first game of the season since suffering a shoulder injury in October, and provided a much-needed spark off the bench with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. The addition of Blackshear adds even more depth to an already stacked lineup that features four other players averaging in double digits. The Cards have the type of lineup that can successfully break down Syracuse’s vaunted 2-3 zone, with senior swingman Kyle Kuric’s (13.2 PPG) outside shooting and the improved post game of sophomore center Gorgui Dieng (10.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG) and freshman forward Chane Behanan (9.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG), both of whom look better and better each game.
The biggest weakness of an otherwise loaded Syracuse team this season has been the (lack of) rebounding. Despite boasting one of the longest and most athletic lineups in the country, the back line of Syracuse’s zone has tendency to watch shots rather than attacking the rim and boxing out. The Orange won the rebounding battle with the Huskies (31-29) on Saturday after getting killed on the glass by the Hoyas (52-35) earlier in the week. Senior point guard Scoop Jardine (8.7 PPG, 4.9 APG) led the way for the Orange on Saturday, dropping a season-high 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range. Sophomore forward C.J. Fair (8.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG) was the most important player for Syracuse though, thanks to his 14 points and team-high 12 rebounds.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
