The #7 Kansas Jayhawks (9-1, 1-0 away) face an old Big-12 foe on the road against the Colorado Buffaloes (9-3, 7-1 home) on Tuesday night. Kansas has won five in a row while the Buffaloes roll into the matchup with three straight victories.
Tuesday’s tipoff is at 9 p.m. EST inside the CU Event Center in Boulder, CO. The Jayhawks are a 10.5-point favorite, and the over-under total is 144.0 points.
What to Know – Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas looks to close out their non-conference slate this week with a near-perfect record heading into conference play. Since their one-point loss to Dayton late last month, Kansas has won their last five contests by an average of 20.8 points. Kansas was the preseason favorite in the Big-12 conference.
The Jayhawks average 85.8 points per game behind an offense that hits 51.9% of their shots and 37.6% from the arc. Defensively, Kansas holds opponents to 67.5 points per game, 43.8% from the floor, and 31.9% from the 3-point line.
Kansas held off a pesky Stephen F. Austin team to pick of their ninth victory of the season on Saturday. The Jayhawks won 80-72 even though Kansas lost both the rebounding and turnover battle. Christian Braun led the Jayhawks with 21 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the floor.
The Jayhawks are 5-5 against the spread, and the total has gone over in five of Kansas’ last six games. Kansas has a 4-8 record ATS in their last 12 games against Colorado.
What to Know – Colorado Buffaloes
A win Tuesday night gives the Buffaloes their first victory over a ranked opponent this season. Colorado was unsuccessful in their other two attempts this year, dropping to UCLA (73-61) and Tennessee (69-54). The Buffaloes were picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 preseason poll.
Colorado’s offense scores 71.0 points per game while shooting 44.9% from the field and 30.8% from three. The Buffaloes’ defense surrenders 65.2 points per game and allows teams to hit 40.9% from the floor and 32.0% from the arc.
The Buffaloes’ defense allowed just 15 points in the first half en route to a 60-46 victory over CSU Bakersfield over the weekend. CU held the Roadrunners to 27.3% shooting from the floor and just 14.3% from deep. Keeshawn Barthelemy filled the stat sheet for Colorado, scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds.
Colorado is a 2-8-2 ATS this year and a 1-5-2 mark at home. The total has gone under in five straight games for the Buffaloes.
The Pick is In
Kansas heads to Boulder for their second actual road game of the season. The Jayhawks had no trouble in their lone-away test, besting St. John’s 95-75 in the Big East-Big 12 Battle.
Colorado should present a tougher test for the Jayhawks, but the Buffaloes already have a pair of double-digit losses to ranked teams, and Kansas will be the best team Colorado has faced this year.
Kansas has leaned on their seniors this year, and that veteran leadership will aid in the Jayhawks picking up another solid non-conference victory on the road.
Betting Pick: Kansas Jayhawks -10.5
