The last full week of January begins with a bang with the #21 Baylor Bears (14-5, 8-2 home) take on the #2 Kansas Jayhawks (16-3, 3-1 away) in a Big 12 Conference clash in the Lone Star State.
Monday’s contest starts at 9 p.m. EST inside the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. Baylor is a three-point favorite and the over/under total is 149.5 points.
What to Know – #2 Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks travel to Waco looking to snap a two-game losing streak in conference play. After winning sixteen of its first 17 games along the first five in Big 12 play, Kansas has suffered back-to-back losses to Kansas State and TCU.
Kansas comes into the game averaging 76.3 points per game and shooting 46.5% from the field and 36.1% from deep. The Jayhawks defense surrenders 67.1 ppg and limits opponents to 40.8% shooting from the floor and 32.3% from the 3-point line.
Jalen Wilson leads the team in scoring pouring in 21.3 ppg. Wilson is shooting 41.8% from the field and is second on the team with 42 3-point field goals made. Gradey Dick is second on the roster and team’s sharpshooter, averaging 14.4 ppg thanks to 43.9% shooting from three.
Kansas is 7-12 against the spread and 3-1 ATS in true road contests. The Jayhawks are 4-1 ATS in their previous five games against Baylor.
What to Know – #21 Baylor Bears
Baylor is trending in the opposite direction of the Jayhawks, winners of the last four games against conference opponents. The Bears lost three Big 12 matchups in a row before their current winning streak. Monday’s matchup is the first of three-straight battles against top 25 teams for the Bears.
Offensively, the Bears average 79.6 ppg thanks to 45.7% shooting from the floor and 36.2% from beyond the arc. Baylor’s defense holds opponents to 69.3 ppg, 43.7% shooting from the field and 33.2% from three.
The trio of Keyonte George, Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer pace the Bears on offense. George headlines the three averaging 17.4 ppg and leading Baylor in field goals and 3-point field goals made. Flager (16.0 ppg) and Cryer (13.7 ppg) add additional scoring outputs to one of the top offensive units in college basketball.
The Bears are 9-9-1 ATS this season with a 5-5 mark ATS on their home court. Baylor is 3-3-1 ATS in matchups against conference opponents.
The Pick is In
Kansas is on the ropes looking to avoid a three-game conference losing streak and lose ground to in-state rival Kansas State. Baylor can jump up in the standings with a win and tie their longest winning streak of the season.
Even though it is still early in the conference slate, Monday’s game is an important one for both teams and their conference momentum. Kansas is playing away from Lawrence, but it is hard to see this Jayhawks team losing three in a row.
The Pick: #2 Kansas Jayhawks +3
