Big 12 Rivals Meet in Rematch
The Baylor Bears and Kansas Jayhawks will match up for the second time this season when the two meet Saturday in Lawrence, Kan.
Both teams are in a three-way tie with Texas for the top spot in the Big 12, with all three owning 9-4 conference records. The Bears are riding a four-game win streak while the Jayhawks have won three in a row.
Baylor and Kansas previously met in late January in Texas, where the Bears got the home win with a 75-69 victory. The Jayhawks will now look to avoid the season sweep with a home victory of their own.
According to college basketball odds, Baylor (+1800) has the eighth-worst odds to win the national championship while Kansas (+1200) is tied for the fourth-best odds. The Bears (+185) have the second-best odds and the Jayhawks (+125) have the best odds to win the Big 12 title.
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for Baylor vs. Kansas. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
Baylor Stays Strong
The Bears have reached the top of the Big 12 and are on a win streak due to the strength of their offense.
Baylor is second in the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 78.8 points a game. Its offense has been on fire during its current win streak, averaging 80.5 points in its last four games and reaching 75 points in three of those.
The Bears have also been shooting well recently. Though their 45.1% shooting percentage is second-worst in the conference, the Bears have shot over 50% in two of its last four games, shooting 49.4% during their four-game win streak.
Baylor had a solid offense in its first meeting with Kansas, scoring 75 points. However, it struggled to shoot the ball, shooting 37.1% from the field and 30% from 3. A good portion of the Bears’ points in that win came off turnovers and offensive rebounds, as they scored 19 and 16 points off each, respectively.
The Bears’ continued strong offense and shooting will be imperative to keep things close on the road against Kansas.
Kansas Extends Streak
The Jayhawks overcame a close first half to extend their win streak to three while putting an end to Oklahoma State’s five-game win streak.
Both teams shot well in the first half, however. Kansas shot 65.5% from the field in the second half to pull away. Freshman Gradey Dick led the way, scoring 17 of his 26 points in the second half. He was one of four Kansas players in double figures against Oklahoma State and has averaged 18.3 points the last three games.
Kansas’ offense is third in the conference in both scoring and shooting percentage, as the Jayhawks average 76.6 points on 46.9% shooting. Though Jalen Wilson leads the team with an average of 20.3 points, balanced scoring has been key during the Jayhawks’ win streak.
Kevin McCullar Jr. averages 10.8 points overall and has averaged 14.7 points in his last three games for Kansas. He was one of three in double digits in the first matchup against Baylor, though his status is up in the air for Saturday due to an ankle injury.
If McCullar is out, other scorers will need to step up to keep the Jayhawks’ offense rolling.
Baylor vs Kansas Game Injuries
Baylor vs Kansas Head-to-Head
Baylor and Kansas have met 39 times since 2000. Though the Jayhawks have owned the series, leading 30-9, it has evened out in recent years, with the two splitting the series 5-5 in the last 10 matchups. The Bears have won the last two meetings, including the January 2023 clash in Waco.
Baylor vs Kansas Game Information
- Game: Baylor (20-6, 9-4 Big 12) vs Kansas (21-5, 9-4)
- Location: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS
- Time/Date: Saturday, Feb. 18, 4 p.m. ET
- Baylor vs Kansas Live Stream:TBS.com
Baylor vs Kansas Betting Lines
Baylor vs Kansas Picks & Prediction
Saturday’s matchup between Baylor and Kansas will be one of the best of the weekend and in the conference as the teams battle for first place in the Big 12.
The Bears and Jayhawks have two of the best offenses in the Big 12, although Kansas’ defense is also superior to that of Baylor’s. The Bears will put up a good fight and keep it close against Kansas. However, winning at Allen Fieldhouse is always tough as Kansas is 12-1 at home. The Jayhawks should come away with a hard-fought win to gain sole possession of first place in the conference.
The Kansas Jayhawks are listed at -220 in our Vegas college basketball lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Jayhawks, you have a chance to win $45. The Baylor Bears are +180, offering a chance to win $180 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Kansas Jayhawks a 68.75% chance to win, with the Baylor Bears at 35.71%.
Baylor vs Kansas Trends
Baylor vs Kansas Edge
Baylor vs Kansas Results
Baylor vs Kansas Game Summary
