Big 12 Tournament: Cincinnati vs. Kansas odds, picks and predictions
The Cincinnati Bearcats (19-13) and Kansas Jayhawks (22-9) meet in the 2nd round of the Big 12 Tournament Wednesday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2/ESPN+). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Cincinnati vs. Kansas odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The 11th-seeded Bearcats slipped past West Virginia in the 1st round 90-85, although it failed to cover as a 9.5-point favorite while the Over (143.5) cashed. It also topped the Mountaineers in the regular-season finale, but the Bearcats are just 3-7 straight up (SU) in the past 10 games. Cincinnati has managed to post a 3-2 against the spread (ATS) mark in the past 5 outings.
Cincinnati could be without F Viktor Lakhin, who turned an ankle in the Kansas State game on March 2, forcing him to miss the past 3 games. He is considered questionable to play. Lakhin averaged 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 27 regular-season games, while hitting 49.8% of his field-goal attempts.
Sixth-seeded Kansas was crushed 76-46 at Houston in the regular-season finale on Saturday, coming nowhere near the cover as a 7.5-point underdog as the Under (139.5) connected. The Jayhawks ended the season on a 1-3 SU/ATS skid in the final 4 contests.
The Jayhawks lost 2 starters in the rout at Houston, as C Hunter Dickinson suffered a dislocated shoulder, although he does not have any ligament damage. F Kevin McCullar Jr. left due to the bone bruise he has been dealing with in his knee, and both players are listed as out for Wednesday's game.
These teams met once during the conference schedule, with Kansas coming away with a 74-69 win at Allen Fieldhouse as Cincinnati covered as an 8-point underdog at most shops. The Under (147) cashed in that meeting, too.
Kansas is No. 17 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll.
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Cincinnati vs. Kansas odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:44 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cincinnati -142 (bet $142 to win $100) | Kansas +118 (bet $100 to win $118)
- Against the spread: Cincinnati -2.5 (-110) | Kansas +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 140.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Cincinnati vs. Kansas picks and predictions
Prediction
Cincinnati 68, Kansas 63
Moneyline
CINCINNATI (-142) is listed as rather moderate favorite on the moneyline. Normally, Kansas (+118) would be in a position to dominate this tournament. While Rock Chalk will still have a giant contingent of fans making the short drive from Lawrence to Kansas City to support its team, the Jayhawks are in a really tough position having to play with Dickinson and McCullar Jr. That's a massive hole being down 2 starters, who each average 18 points per game.
Against the spread
CINCINNATI -2.5 (-110) needs a win to bolster its NCAA Tournament hopes, and even against a shorthanded Kansas +2.5 (-110) side, a win over the Jayhawks looks good.
The Bearcats covered in the 1st meeting in Lawrence when everybody was healthy. Cincinnati has an injury concern of its own with Lahkin nursing an ankle injury. But the Bearcats should be able to do enough to get the job done.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Over/Under
UNDER 140.5 (-110) is the play since KU will be down 2 big pieces, including the heart and soul in the middle.
McCullar Jr. averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game across 26 outings, while Dickinson was good for 18.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game in 31 contests. That's a giant chunk of the offense which will be in street clothes.
Kansas managed a paltry 46 points in the regular-season finale without the 2 twin towers, and it isn't likely to cobble together a lot of offense in this game, either.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from Paste BN Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin /
College Sports Wire: Men's hoops / Women's hoops / High School