Kansas State vs. West Virginia Prediction
Big 12 rivals will square off at 2:00 p.m. ET on Saturday when West Virginia hosts Kansas State while looking to stay unbeaten at home. With the spread listed at 12.5 and the total sitting at 131, what’s the smart play for bettors?
Game Snapshot
627 Kansas State (+12.5) at 628 West Virginia (-12.5); o/u 131
2:00 p.m. ET, February 1, 2020
WVU Coliseum
Our NCAA College Basketball Live Odds page pulls spreads and totals from multiple different online sportsbooks so you can compare betting odds to ensure you’re getting the best line.
Public Betting Trends
According to our College Basketball Public Betting Chart page, 84% of betting tickets are on West Virginia to cover the spread in this matchup.
Kansas State Player Spotlight
Xavier Sneed tallied 14 points (3-8 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 7-9 FT), four rebounds, one steal, and a block in the loss to Texas Tech on Tuesday. As it is most nights, the Wildcats don’t get much scoring outside of Sneed and Cartier Diarra. Now a senior, Sneed is having his most productive season yet. He is averaging 14.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 three-pointers, and 1.6 steals per game. Kansas State needs Sneed to generate some offense, and as a result his efficiency has dipped. He is shooting career lows in field goal percentage (39%) and three-point percentage (32%). Sneed will look to get his shot going on Saturday when they host West Virginia.
West Virginia Player Spotlight
Oscar Tshiebwe notched a double-double in a blowout over Texas with 13 points (4-7 FG, 5-8 FT), 11 rebounds, two steals, and an assist. Tshiebwe now has seven double-doubles this season. He and front court partner Derek Culver are among the best rebounding threats in the Big 12. Tshiebwe has been very efficient this season, averaging 11.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in just 22.8 minutes per game while shooting 60.5 percent from the field. He should have no issues tearing up Missouri on the interior on Saturday.
NCAA College Basketball Betting Trends
Kansas State
The over is 4-1 in the Wildcats’ last five games overall and has cashed in four-straight when they’re an underdog.
West Virginia
The over is 4-1 in the Mountaineers’ last five games overall but the under is 4-1 in their last five games coming off a loss.
Prediction
Despite the big number, I still feel as though oddsmakers have shorted WVU in this matchup. The Mountaineers are a perfect 6-0 against the spread in their last six games when listed as a home favorite, are 6-0 against the number in their last six home games overall and have cashed in seven of their last nine games overall. They’re also a perfect 8-0 against the number in their last eight games coming off a loss and have covered in 10 of their last 11 opportunities when they’re coming off an ATS loss as well. Meanwhile, the Wildcats are just 3-8 against the spread in their last 11 games as an underdog and are just 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
Saturday NCAA College Basketball Prediction: West Virginia Mountaineers -12.5