West Virginia vs. Kansas Predictions, Odds


  • December 22, 2020
  • By David Schwab
  • VegasInsider.com

The top matchup on Tuesday’s college basketball betting board is a Big 12 showdown between the No. 8 West Virginia Mountaineers and the No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse. Game time on ESPN2 is set for 9 p.m. (ET).

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West Virginia-Kansas Betting Odds

Line Movements

  • Spread: Kansas -3
  • Money-Line: TBD
  • Total: 140.5

Odds Subject to Change

The Jayhawks have been opened as five-point home favorites for this Big 12 battle between 7-1 teams. The total line for the game is set at 140.5 points.

West Virginia’s only straight-up loss against seven wins came against No. 1 Gonzaga in a tight 87-82 loss as am +8.5-point underdog. The Mountaineers are 1-3 against the spread in their last four games with the total going OVER three of their last five outings.

Head-to-head, West Virginia as lost eight of its last 10 games against Kansas SU with a 4-6 record ATS. It is 0-8 SU in the last eight meetings in Lawrence. The total stayed UNDER in seven of the 10 meetings.

The Jayhawks’ only SU blemish in eight games was a 102-90 loss to Gonzaga as four-point underdogs in their season opener. They are 3-4 ATS but coming off a big 58-57 upset over Texas Tech on Dec. 17 in their Big 12 opener. The total has stayed UNDER in their last five games.

Kansas is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 conference games.

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Betting Analysis – West Virginia Mountaineers

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 7-1
  • ATS: 4-4
  • SU - Home: 6-0
  • SU - Away: 1-1
  • O/U: 4-4

Miles McBride led the way with 18 points in the Mountaineers’ 70-65 victory over Iowa State last Friday in their Big 12 opener. The sophomore guard leads the team in both points (15.0) and assists (4.2).

He is one of four Mountaineers averaging at least 10 points per game. Forward Derek Culver is a close second with 14.4 points and he is averaging a double-double with 10.9 rebounds.

West Virginia is scoring an average of 76 points while shooting 42% from the field. That conversion rate falls to 32.8% from three-point range. Guard Taz Sherman is the team’s best three-point shooter at 46.2%.

At the other end of the court, the Mountaineers are allowing an average of 68.1 points. They are pulling down 34.6 defensive rebounds a game and 40.9 overall.

Betting Analysis – Kansas Jayhawks

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 7-1
  • ATS: 3-4
  • SU - Home: 4-0
  • SU - Away: 3-1
  • O/U: 2-5

Following the 12-point loss to Gonzaga, the Jayhawks have won four games by four points or less. The tight battles have been nerve racking for head coach Bill Self but his team has proven itself resilient when it comes to getting the win.

The tight win over Texas Tech extended Kansas’s SU winning streak to 30 in Big 12 season openers. Ochai Agbaji set the pace with 23 points in that game.

The junior guard’s scoring average on the season is 15.3 PPG. Second on the list at 14.3 points is forward Jalen Wilson.

Overall, the Jayhawks are averaging 78.6 PPG. They are shooting 44% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the three-point line. Wilson leads in rebounds (8.0) and guard Marcus Garrett leads in assists (3.9).

Kansas is allowing an average of 66.3 points on defense. It is pulling down 43.3 rebounds a game with 33.1 on defense. The Jayhawks have not given up more than 72 points since their opener against some stiff competition.

Inside the Stats – West Virginia Mountaineers

  • PS/G: 76 (131st)
  • PA/G: 68.1 (142nd)
  • Off Rtg: 105.2 (129th)
  • Def Rtg: 94.3 (133rd)

Inside the Stats – Kansas Jayhawks

  • PS/G: 78.6 (95th)
  • PA/G: 66.2 (109th)
  • Off Rtg: 107.5 (98th)
  • Def Rtg: 90.6 (88th)

Key Players to Watch

  • WVU - Miles McBride (15 PPG)
  • WVU - Derek Culver (14.4 PPG, 10.9 RPG)
  • KU - Ochai Agbaji (15.3 PPG)
  • KU - Jalen Wilson (14.3 PPG, 8 RPG)

West Virginia-Kansas Predictions

Kansas has dominated this series SU for quite some time but I do see West Virginia keeping things interesting to the final second-half buzzer.

Close enough to the point where I will take the Mountaineers and the five points on Tuesday night. These teams matchup rather well against one another on both sides of the court.

Kansas still gets the overall SU edge but I anticipate a hard-fought battle. This should also keep the overall scoring low enough to add a bet on the UNDER for the total in this game.

  • Score Prediction: Kansas 65 West Virginia 61
  • Best Bets: WVU +5
  • Best Bets: UNDER

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