NCAA Betting Odds: Jayhawks are 2 point favorites against the Longhorns

Monday, February 08: 9:00 p.m.

In what is sure to be one of the games of the season, two of college basketball’s best teams will get together in Monday’s betting odds. That is when the No. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks visit the Texas Longhorns.

Kansas comes into this game as one of the most impressive teams offensively and defensively in the country, but has been a headache for bettors of late, covering none of their last three games.

: Kansas -2

Here are some NCAA Betting Trends which may impact this game:

• Kansas: 0-3 ATS in their last 3 games
• Kansas: Total has gone UNDER in 3 of their last 5 games
• Texas: 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games
• Texas: Total has gone OVER in 4 of their last 5 games

Offensively, they rank fourth in the country in total scoring, averaging 83 points per contest. Their best player is senior guard Sherron Collins, who may very well end up as the Big XII Player of the Year. On the season, he’s averaging 15 points and four assists per game, and is as big a reason as any, why the Jayhawks are ranked No. 1 in the country. Cole Aldrich adds 11 points and 10 rebounds per game, and freshman Xavier Henry 13 points a contest as well.

However, what truly separates Kansas from the rest of the pack nationally is one of the deepest and most skilled benches in college basketball. Whether it’s Brady Morningstar (who also occasionally starts), Tyshawn Taylor, Tyrel Reed, Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, whoever, they just keep coming at you. It is also because of this depth, that Kansas can play such aggressive defense, which is ranked No. 1 in the country in defensive field goal percentage (36 percent allowed).

As for the Texas Longhorns, after ascending to the No. 1 ranking in the country just a few weeks ago, they’ve fallen flat on their faces, going just 2-4 straight up in their last six games. They’ll need their best effort of the season Monday night at home.

For Texas, it’s hard to say exactly what their problem has been. They are third in the country in scoring (84 points per game), and decent defensively, holding opponents to just 38 percent shooting. There’s no telling what the problem is exactly, but the Longhorns better figure things out quickly as we inch toward March.

Maybe their biggest advantage Monday night will be down low, where for the first time all season, Kansas will see a frontline that is just as big and athletic as their own. Damion James (17 points 11 rebounds a game), Dexter Pittman, Gary Johnson and others provide the bulk to handle Aldrich and the Morris’s in the paint. And I think that’ll be the difference in this game.

While Kansas is good, no team is truly unbeatable in college basketball this season. And with Texas desperate for a win, I think they may actually steal one against the No.1 ranked team in the country Monday night.

Expect Texas’ size to be the difference in this one, as Aldrich will be held in check down low. While Collins may have a big game for Kansas, it won’t be enough in Monday night’s betting odds.