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The West Virginia Mountaineers are set to face the Kansas Jayhawks this weekend. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our West Virginia Kansas prediction, odds, and pick.
West Virginia is not an elite team, but the Mountaineers are a tough team. They battle. They have flaws and limitations, but they never give up, and that can count for a lot in college basketball odds discussions and various other theaters of activity. West Virginia fell out of bed on the wrong side against Kansas State earlier in January, trailing 18-4, but the Mountaineers patiently worked their way back into the game and eventually beat the Wildcats. West Virginia then hammered Oklahoma State earlier this week to solidify its season and enter this game against Kansas with considerable confidence.
West Virginia is — as one would expect — an effort-based team. Bob Huggins loves to coach these kinds of teams, but the key point of emphasis is that if West Virginia isn't playing great defense and isn't winning battles for loose balls, the Mountaineers are in huge trouble. They have to make hustle plays in order to increase their margin for error, because they aren't an overwhelmingly potent offensive team. they have some capable scorers, but they don't have elite scorers. There's a difference between the two. West Virginia wants to make this an ugly game, going up against the skill level of Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse. Consider that point when making a West Virginia Kansas pick.
Kansas is living on the edge in the Big 12. The Jayhawks missed 19 straight shots but regrouped after that dry spell to beat Oklahoma State. They have lost to Texas Tech, and they barely beat Iowa State at home earlier this week. They have not hit their stride, but they are still very much in the hunt in the Big 12. They received some help when Baylor lost at home to Texas Tech. Kansas has picked up some transfers this season, most notably Arizona State transfer Remy Martin. How the pieces fit in Bill Self's program is an evolving question which will continue to be answered with each game KU plays. Keep that point in mind when pondering a West Virginia Kansas prediction based on the college basketball odds you have below.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the West Virginia-Kansas odds:
College Basketball odds: West Virginia-Kansas Odds
West Virginia: +12 (-110)
Kansas: -12 (-110)
Over: 142 (-110)
Under: 142 (-110)
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Why West Virginia Could Cover the Spread
The Mountaineers' penchant for not letting go of the rope, and always competing until the final horn, puts them in a position to cover the spread — not necessarily to win the game outright, but certainly to cover the spread. WVU is a 12-point underdog. Iowa State was also a 12-point underdog at Kansas earlier this week. Iowa State lost by only one point, easily covering. West Virginia is capable of doing the same thing against the Jayhawks in Lawrence.
Why Kansas Could Cover the Spread
The Jayhawks are due for a breakout game in which they play their best. There's a lot of talent on this team, but with transfers as part of the jigsaw puzzle being managed by Bill Self, the larger project is requiring some time to emerge in all its fullness. That's natural and normal. It's not a shocking development. If Remy Martin is cooking from the perimeter, Kansas becomes a very scary and dangerous team.
Final West Virginia-Kansas Prediction & Pick
The West Virginia blue-collar identity will emerge in this game. Kansas's offense won't take off. WVU will keep this game close and lose by only five points.
Final West Virginia-Kansas Pick: West Virginia +12
