Another ticket to the final four is on the line in the Miami vs Kansas betting matchup as part of Sunday’s Elite 8 slate (2:20 PM ET, CBS). The Jayhawks are the last #1 seed left in the NCAA Tournament, looking to head back to the Final 4 for the first time since 2018.
Miami is going to be a hard out though, as they showed in Friday’s 70-58 win over Iowa State even though the Untied Center crowd in Chicago was littered with Cyclones fans. The Hurricanes have already taken down #2 seed Auburn this tournament, and has a win at Cameron Indoor Stadium as well as just a 4-point loss against Final 4 team Duke this season.
Miami Can Pull This Off
The Hurricanes beat #11 seed Iowa State 70-58 on Friday, but that’s a more impressive win than it looks like considering ISU had the #5 adjusted defense in the nation. The Cyclones had just taken down Big Ten regular season champs Wisconsin (54-49) in the round of 32 and a good LSU (59-54) squad in the opener. Miami was able to get to 70 points vs. Iowa State despite Isaiah Wong (15.5 ppg) and Charlie Moore (12.5 ppg) being held scoreless in the 1st half.
The Hurricanes have a tough matchup in the Miami vs Kansas betting contest, but this is also a UM team than their 28-10 record would indicate. Six of the Hurricanes’ last seven losses have come by four points or less. This is a team battle tested in close games.
Kansas Going for Destiny
The Jayhawks know that nothing is a given on Sunday even as a #1 – or perhaps especially as a #1 seed. Baylor, Gonzaga, and Arizona have all met their demise this tournament, and now Kansas carries the torch for the #1 seeds as they try to beat a very good Miami squad.
Kansas got here by beating Texas Southern (83-56), Creighton (79-72), and Providence (66-61) – the last two being good, yet not great, teams out of the Big East. Despite being 27-6 on the year, Providence was still 32nd in KenPom rankings and Creighton 49th. Then again, Miami is 35th.
Miami vs Kansas Betting Info
The Jayhawks are a -5.5 favorite in Sunday’s matchup with a betting total of 146.5. The Hurricanes have covered the number in all three of their tournament games (Kansas 1-2) and Miami is 19-6-1 ATS their last 26 as an underdog. The Jayhawks are just 1-5 ATS their last 6 NCAA Tournament games, a major reason why 71% of the betting public are backing Miami.
Miami vs Kansas Betting Pick
Kansas is a deep and athletic team that has the #6 adjusted offense and #23 adjusted defense in the country. The thing about Miami though is that they just have a knack for keeping games close. The Hurricanes have beaten Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium this season, and has handed another Elite 8 team North Carolina an 85-57 thumping.
Kansas put together a 31-6 record this season despite playing the #4 toughest strength of schedule in the country. That being said, 5.5 is a lot of points for Miami to be getting.
Free Pick: Miami Hurricanes +5.5
