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College Basketball

Kentucky Wildcats vs. Kansas Jayhawks Predictions, Picks, Odds

Michael Crosson
Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read

The Kentucky Wildcats (16-4, 6-2 SEC) travel to meet the Kansas Jayhawks (17-2, 6-1 Big 12) at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN.

SCORE PREDICTION

Kansas 75, Kentucky 72

BEST BETS

Kentucky +5.5 (-110) at BetMGM

Under 153 (-110) at William Hill

KENTUCKY WILDCATS VS. KANSAS JAYHAWKS PREDICTIONS

The Wildcats have picked up victories in five of the past six outings, but they have failed to cover in each of the past three, and five of the past seven contests. Kentucky suffered an 80-71 loss at Auburn last Saturday, but bounced back with an 82-74 win at home against Mississippi State. However, the Wildcats needed overtime to secure the win, while cashing the OVER for the second straight game.

Kentucky shot 47% (31-of-66) from the field, while turning it over 16 times as it outrebounded the Bulldogs 42-30. Oscar Tshiebwe was an absolute beast, posting 21 points with 22 rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot, as he was a one-man wrecking crew, putting Kentucky on his back and willing it to a victory.

Kansas also needed overtime last time out to ease by Texas Tech, 94-91. Like Kentucky, Rock Chalk has also failed to cover the past three outings, while hitting the OVER in two straight, and three of the past four like the Wildcats. The 94 points were the most for Kansas since dropped 102 on Missouri, another SEC opponent.

KENTUCKY WILDCATS VS. KANSAS JAYHAWKS BETTING ODDS

  • Kentucky +180
  • Kansas -225
  • Kentucky +5.5 (-110)
  • Kansas -5.5 (-110)
  • Over 153 (-110)
  • Under 153 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

KENTUCKY WILDCATS VS. KANSAS JAYHAWKS BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: SEC vs. Big 12
  • Date: Saturday, January 29, 2022
  • Venue: Allen Fieldhouse
  • Location: Lawrence, Kansas
  • TV-Time: ESPN - 6:00 p.m. ET

KENTUCKY WILDCATS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

  • SU: 16-4
  • ATS: 9-11
  • O/U: 10-10

The Wildcats have won five of the past six games overall, but they have failed to cover in three straight, and five of the past seven games. The last time Kentucky failed to cover four or more in a row was during an 0-5 ATS skid from Jan. 26-Feb. 13, 2021 last season.

Also last season, these teams faced each other on a neutral court at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, with the Wildcats on the short end of a 65-62 score, although Kentucky did cover as four-point underdogs at most shops while the UNDER connected. Kentucky has covered three in row in the series, while going 6-2 ATS across the past eight meetings. The UNDER has also dominated, going 4-0 in the past four meetings, and 7-1 across the previous eight showdowns.

Kentucky heads into this one 0-4 ATS in the past four as an underdog, while going 7-15 ATS in the past 22 against teams with a winning record and 1-6 ATS in the past seven on the road.

KANSAS JAYHAWKS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

  • SU: 17-2
  • ATS: 8-10-1
  • O/U: 13-6

Kansas heads into this one with a 1-5 ATS mark across the past six games overall, while going 1-5 ATS in the past six as a favorite and 1-5 ATS in the past six against teams with a winning overall record. With Kentucky also struggling against the number lately, something's gotta give.

For totals, the OVER is 14-6-1 in the past 21 games overall, while going 14-6 in the past 20 as a favorite. The OVER is also 5-2 in the past seven at Allen Fieldhouse, while going 7-0 in the past seven appearances on Saturday, for whatever that's worth. The UNDER is 6-1 in the past seven for Kansas against winning teams, however.

The favorite has covered seven of the past 10 meetings in this series. (AP)

INSIDE THE STATS - KENTUCKY WILDCATS

  • Record: 16-4
  • VI Ranking: 14
  • PS/G: 82.2 (9th)
  • PA/G: 64.2 (63rd)
  • ORtg: 116.0 (7th)
  • DRtg: 90.6 (30th)

INSIDE THE STATS - KANSAS JAYHAWKS

  • Record: 17-2
  • VI Ranking: 4
  • PS/G: 81.5 (12th)
  • PA/G: 67.9 (158th)
  • ORtg: 114.4 (14th)
  • DRtg: 95.3 (103rd)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • UK: Oscar Tshiebwe - F (16.3 PPG, 15.2 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 1.6 SPG)
  • UK: Tyty Washington Jr. - G (13.6 PPG, 4.4 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.2 APG)
  • KU: Ochai Agbaji - G (21.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 47.0 3P%)
  • KU: Christian Braun - G (15.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.2 SPG)

KENTUCKY WILDCATS VS. KANSAS JAYHAWKS BETTING CONCLUSION

Kansas will have its hands full all evening trying to contain Tshiebwe, as he is a one-man wrecking crew. But, if they can get him into a spot of foul trouble, it could be easy cruising for the home side. Once you get past Tshiebwe and Tyty Washington Jr., the cupboard isn't as stocked for John Calipari as it usually is.

Toss in the fact that the Jayhawks finally get the Wildcats on their home court in Lawrence rather than a neutral site, and the scales should be tipped in favor of the home side. Look for KU to rock chalk its way to a home victory, although Kentucky should play them close. Also look for the UNDER to continue its dominance in this series.

KENTUCKY WILDCATS VS. KANSAS JAYHAWKS BETTING TRENDS

  • Kentucky is 2-5 ATS in the past seven games overall.
  • Kentucky is 1-6 ATS in the past seven road games.
  • Kentucky is 0-4 ATS in the past four as an underdog.
  • Kentucky is 0-4 ATS in the past four as a road 'dog.
  • Kentucky is 7-15 ATS in the past 22 vs. winning teams.
  • Kansas is 1-5 ATS in the past six games overall.
  • Kansas is 1-5 ATS in the past six as a favorite.
  • Kansas is 1-5 ATS in the past six vs. winning teams.
  • The UNDER is 4-1 in the past five road games for Kentucky.
  • The UNDER is 6-1 in the past seven vs. winning teams for Kentucky.
  • The OVER is 14-6-1 in the past 21 games overall for Kansas.
  • The OVER is 5-2 in the past seven home games for Kansas.
  • The OVER is 14-6 in the past 20 as a favorite for Kansas.
  • The favorite is 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings.
  • The UNDER is 7-1 in the past eight meetings.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson
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