College Basketball: Kansas at Oklahoma – Kansas Favored
82% of Bets Placed on Kansas -6.5 | Matchup | CBB Picks
With two regular-season games remaining, Kansas is locked in a tie atop the Big 12 standings. The sixth-ranked Jayhawks look for sole possession of the conference lead when they visit Oklahoma on Monday.
Oddsmakers have made Kansas -6.5 point spread favorites (College Basketball Odds) for todays game, the over/under has been set at 129 total points (View College Basketball Sports Books).
The Jayhawks (25-4, 12-2) have won six straight games to move into a tie with No. 8 Texas A&M for first place in the Big 12. The Aggies, who are idle Monday, play at No. 19 Texas on Wednesday and face Missouri at home Saturday. Kansas closes out its schedule Saturday with a home game against the Longhorns.
If the Jayhawks and Aggies finish the regular season tied, Texas A&M would earn the top seed in the conference tournament by virtue of winning 69-66 at Kansas on Feb. 3.
Kansas has dominated the opposition during its winning streak, taking the six games by an average margin of 28.8 points, including an 89-52 victory Saturday over Iowa State. Mario Chalmers led six Jayhawks in double-figures with 18 points. Sherron Collins, starting for injured guard Russell Robinson, added 12 points, six assists and three steals as Kansas won for the 19th time in its last 21 contests.
"For the last 10 games we have really hunkered down and played well," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "Our guys are pretty confident right now. We’re playing the best we have all year."
The Jayhawks are on a roll, but that has not stopped the Sooners (15-12, 6-8) in the past. Oklahoma has beaten Kansas teams ranked in the top 10 four times since 2001, most recently a 71-63 victory at Norman on Feb. 21, 2005, against the then-No. 8 Jayhawks.
This year’s Sooners, though, are slumping. They matched a season high with four straight wins Jan. 30-Feb. 10, but have followed that up with four consecutive losses, including Saturday’s 68-58 defeat to Texas when they could not overcome a 13-point halftime deficit.
"I thought our guys fought – every possession," Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel said. "In the second half we came out and got after it defensively and did some good things offensively. We didn’t make some shots but we were able to compete.
"Even when we’re not making shots, we can still compete. Some of our guys stepped up and did some really good things today. Hopefully, this is something we can build on."
Nate Carter had 13 points and three rebounds against Texas. Carter is averaging 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds during Oklahoma’s losing streak after averaging 19.5 points and 7.4 rebounds over his previous 10 contests, with the Sooners going 7-3 in that stretch.
The Sooners have won their last two home matchups against the Jayhawks, but are looking to avoid their first five-game losing streak since a six-game skid in 1991.
"We have to be ready," Capel said. "It will be really tough here on Monday. It will be an emotional night. It’s senior night. But we’ll be prepared for it."
by: Marc Young – theSpread.com – Email Us
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