Kansas vs. Kentucky odds, picks and predictions
The Kansas Jayhawks (2-0) and Kentucky Wildcats (2-0) meet Tuesday at the United Center in Chicago. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Kansas vs. Kentucky odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Kansas has rolled up 2 huge victories against overwhelmed opponents North Carolina Central and Manhattan. This will easily be the 1st real test for the top-ranked team in the nation. C Hunter Dickinson has settled in nicely for Rock Chalk, hitting 65.2% of his field-goal attempts to average 19.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game.
Likewise, Kentucky hasn't faced a gauntlet yet, either. The Wildcats roughed up New Mexico State by an 86-46 win at Rupp Arena as a 15-point favorite, while topping Texas A&M-Commerce by an 81-61 count as a 29-point favorite, cashing the Under in each outing.
Kansas is No. 1 and Kentucky is No. 16 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll.
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Kansas vs. Kentucky odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:44 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Kansas -275 (bet $275 to win $100) | Kentucky +220 (bet $100 to win $220)
- Against the spread (ATS): Kansas -6.5 (-110) | Kentucky +6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 147.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Kansas vs. Kentucky picks and predictions
Prediction
Kansas 82, Kentucky 73
Moneyline
Kansas (-275) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return, and that's way too much risk and not enough reward.
We know that the Jayhawks are talented, and deep, but we just haven't seen how this group will react in a game against top-notch opponents. We'll know a lot more about these teams after Tuesday's tilt.
PASS.
Against the spread
KANSAS -6.5 (-110) is worth a look, as the offense has been a lot more prolific, albeit against 2 low-level opponents.
Kentucky +6.5 (-110) just isn't quite as deep as the Jayhawks, and it's likely to show in Chicago against the top-ranked team in the nation. The Wildcats have also struggled from the free-throw during the early going, hitting just 75.9% from the charity stripe in 2 games, and that's a concern in what should be a much closer game.
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Over/Under
OVER 147.5 (-110) is worth playing, but go lightly with a half-unit play at most.
The total has cashed low in both games for Kentucky so far, as the Wildcats have limited opponents to just 53.5 PPG in 2 outings. But they haven't faced nearly the kind of offense Kansas brings to the table. The Jayhawks have scored 99 points in each of their 2 games to date. While KU isn't likely to be nearly as prolific against a much better team, still lean high.
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