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The Kentucky Wildcats are set to face the Kansas Jayhawks this weekend. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our Kentucky Kansas prediction, odds, and pick.
The Kentucky Wildcats have shown considerable talent and potential this season, but injuries have gotten in the way of their evolution. C.J. Fredrick, a lethal shooter who transferred from Iowa, was supposed to give the Wildcats a major infusion of offense. He got injured last year, before UK could develop any rapport with him and fully integrate him into the lineup. More recently, TyTy Washington, who helps facilitate the Cats' offense and gives them one of their better ball-handlers, got injured against Auburn, a decisive moment in that loss to the Tigers. Washington also was hurt for a portion of a road loss to LSU. If Kentucky had been healthy in those games, the SEC standings might look very different to college basketball odds experts and everyone else. Keep that in mind when considering a Kentucky Kansas prediction.
Kentucky is capable, led by big man Oscar Tshiebwe, who recorded a 20-20 game (20 or more points, 20 or more rebounds) earlier this week in an overtime win over Mississippi State. The Kentucky Kansas odds don't reflect Kentucky's full potential. They do reflect the level of this team when it doesn't have all of its pieces fully healthy. Tshiebwe gives Big Blue a fighting chance in this showcase edition of the Big 12-SEC Challenge.
Kansas is doing what the Jayhawks have so often done under head coach Bill Self: They win the tough, close road games in the Big 12 which separate the Jayhawks from the rest of the conference. Kansas won 14 straight Big 12 titles from 2005-2018, one of the most remarkable streaks in the history of this sport, as college basketball odds analysts will tell you. KU would always win the 50-50 games which went down to the wire, scrambling to win games its foremost competitors failed to win. That's how the 14-year streak was forged. KU has that same knack this year because Ochai Agbaji won't let Kansas lose. He saved the Jayhawks in double overtime earlier this week against Texas Tech, in a game KU trailed by five with 1:30 left in the first overtime period. Agbaji also capped a massive comeback on the road at Kansas State with a game-winning bucket. He makes the biggest plays on this team, providing support to big man David McCormack and Arizona State transfer Remy Martin. KU has lots of options to turn to in crunch time, something to remember when making a Kentucky Kansas pick.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Kentucky-Kansas odds:
College Basketball odds: Kentucky-Kansas Odds
Kentucky: +5.5 (-110)
Kansas: -5.5 (-110)
Over: 153 (-106)
Under: 153 (-114)
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Why Kentucky Could Cover the Spread
The presence of Tshiebwe could neutralize KU's David McCormack and enable the Wildcats to control the paint — and the tempo — in this game. If Tshiebwe goes off and dominates, UK's backcourt limitations become less central to this game, offering John Calipari a path to victory against Bill Self on the road.
Why Kansas Could Cover the Spread
The Agbaji-Martin combo is playing better and more dynamic basketball than any of Kentucky's wing players. UK needs a big game from Davidson transfer Kellan Grady, but he struggled with his shot against Mississippi State before getting a few big, late makes. Kansas just needs McCormack to draw even with Tshiebwe. It should win the other matchups on the floor.
Final Kentucky-Kansas Prediction & Pick
Kentucky has the makings of a great team, but it doesn't have all its pieces fully healthy and integrated into its lineup. Kansas isn't operating under that fundamental limitation right now. Go with the Jayhawks in Phog Allen Fieldhouse, where they are regularly tough to beat.
Final Kentucky-Kansas Pick: Kansas -5.5
