Oklahoma vs. Kansas Odds
| Oklahoma Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+10.5 -110 | 138.5 -110o / -110u | +425 |
| Kansas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-10.5 -110 | 138.5 -110o / -110u | -600 |
Some simple words to live by: if it looks like a rat, smells like a rat, tastes like a rat, then odds are it is most likely a rat.
The same can be said with sports betting, as we saw a prime rat line when Kansas traveled to Texas before losing by three.
On the other hand, Oklahoma comfortably cruised to a 70-55 victory at home against No. 9 Texas Tech in its last game.
Oklahoma comes into this one riding high and looking to notch what would be one of the most impressive two-game winning streaks in the nation.
Meanwhile, Kansas looks to get back on track after getting exposed by Texas.
Will Oklahoma firmly plant itself on the map? Or will Kansas remind everyone why it is firmly one of the best teams in the Big 12 and the country?
Let's find out.
Oklahoma Sooners
Sometimes when you take a bet, all you can do is close your eyes, plug your nose and look away. If you follow me on the Action app, you know exactly what I'm talking about when I took Oklahoma +3 against the Red Raiders.
You could imagine my delight when I saw Oklahoma in the lead and gaining ground to an outright win. The Sooners were led by Umoja Gibson, who dropped 30 points on Tech's vaunted defense.
When you're the worst rebounding team in the Big 12, shotmaking becomes more important than ever due to the lack of second chance opportunities. Oklahoma shined in that area against Tech, shooting an impressive 46.4% from 3 and 48.9% from the field.
More importantly, the Sooners' defense was on full display — something you never hear during football season. The unit limited Texas Tech to 11.8% from 3 and 39.6% from the field.
While the offense shot at a blistering efficient pace, the Sooners were far from perfect, and have been that way all season. Ranking 63rd in AdjO, Oklahoma has been at the fault of its own errors, as it's dead last in the Big 12 in turnovers (almost 15 a game).
I'd categorize the Sooners' offense as good not great, but it will need to be great to keep pace with Kansas' top-ranked offense.
You can only rely so much on your defense if you're Oklahoma.
Kansas Jayhawks
Boy was Monday a letdown for the Jayhawks.
After absolutely dismantling Baylor — which in my opinion is one of the best teams in the country — to the tune of 83-59, Kansas lost its next game at Texas in a nail biter.
The only reason it was so shocking to me is because of the way Texas won. The Longhorns have one of the most anemic offenses in the country, casually going through long droughts.
If Monday was your first time watching the Longhorns, you would call me a liar for my previous statement.
Moving forward, Kansas is facing another lacking offense in the Sooners — although it is heating up at the right time.
While Kansas still has respectable defensive metrics (36th in AdjD), it will need to step up and generate steals. Kansas ranks near dead last in the Big 12 in that category.
Turning defense into their already high-powered offense is exactly what the Jayhawks need to cement themselves as the best team in the country. Going against Oklahoma's suboptimal offense may be the key for them.
The Jayhawks' offense is — and has been — one of the best in the nation, led by potential All-American guard Ochai Agbaji. The veteran averages 20.3 points a night and is complimented by guard Christian Braun, who puts up 15.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Coach Bill Self plays his cards tight to his vest, with only seven players contributing meaningful minutes.
When Agbaji runs cold, Kansas has plenty of other scorers, making this one of the most versatile and dangerous units in basketball.
Oklahoma vs. Kansas Betting Pick
These two teams met earlier this season, with Kansas squeaking by 67-64. Don't let the final score fool you, Kansas was comfortably dominating until Oklahoma had to rip off a 20-4 run in the second half to make the game interesting.
I don't see that happening twice, and this is a good buy-low spot for me.
Oklahoma's offense was uncharacteristically efficient against one of the best defenses in the nation. This is a team that has struggled to eclipse 70 points in a game since its last meeting with Kansas.
I have more faith in Kansas bouncing back and setting a scoring pace far too fast for Oklahoma to keep up. Even with Oklahoma possessing a good defense, Kansas just has too much firepower for the Sooners to contain.
Oklahoma is also a shell of itself on the road. The Sooners are 2-5 in true road games, with wins against West Virginia and UCF. They turn the ball over on 25% of their total possessions, and can't buy a bucket from deep by shooting 26% from 3.
I will take Kansas in a bounce-back game, and I will look to take a live under in preparation for a cold slump mid-game.
