Texas basketball vs. Kansas: Prediction and odds college basketball
For the second time in as many weekends, Texas basketball and interim head coach Rodney Terry will square off against the Kansas Jayhawks. This time around, though, Texas will face Kansas under the guidance of acting head coach Norm Roberts, as head coach Bill Self is absent at the Big 12 Men’s Tournament due to health issues.
Terry and the Longhorns come into the Big 12 Tournament final with a record of 25-8 (12-6 Big 12) following a hard-fought 66-60 win over the six-seed TCU Horned Frogs and head coach Jamie Dixon in the semifinals on March 10. Texas has now defeated the seven-seed Oklahoma State Cowboys and six-seed TCU to reach the Big 12 Tournament final for the second time in the last three years.
Meanwhile, Kansas comes into this game with a record of 26-6 (13-5 Big 12) following a 78-72 win over the five-seed Iowa State Cyclones in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals on March 10. Kansas took care of business against the eight-seed West Virginia Mountaineers and the five-seed Iowa State so far in Kansas City.
Here’s a look at the betting odds and game prediction as the two-seed Texas gets set to square off against one-seed Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament final on March 11. This game is set to tip-off at 5 p.m. CT at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO.
Texas basketball vs. Kansas: Betting odds for Big 12 Tournament finals
Texas is a 1.5-point underdog against Kansas and the over/under is set at 142.5 (per FanDuel).
The moneyline favors Kansas (-130) over Texas (+108).
According to Kenpom, Texas has a 49 percent chance of beating Kansas. And Kenpom projects Kansas to beat Texas 74-73.
Texas vs. Kansas prediction
Texas and Kansas split the regular season series, each winning their respective contests at home. On March 4, though, it was the Longhorns downing the Jayhawks in convincing fashion at home at the Moody Center in Austin by the final score of 75-59.
Terry and the Longhorns will be looking to show those defensive chops once again to slow down the All-Big 12 duo of junior forward Jalen Wilson and freshman wing Gradey Dick.
Texas could have some matchup issues that it presents Kansas, though. The senior big man combination of Dylan Disu and Christian Bishop was stellar in the win over TCU on March 10. They combined for 27 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks as Texas outscored TCU in the paint by a whopping margin of 20 points.
2 studs, 1 dud from hard-fought win over TCU. dark. Next
If Texas can utilize its bench-scoring advantage to the fullest extent while milking its edge in terms of points in the paint, then it should be able to pull off the slight upset of Kansas on March 11. Texas can stay alive in the conversation to earn a one-seed on Selection Sunday while taking home its second Big 12 Tournament crown in the last three years with a win over the Jayhawks this weekend.