Texas Tries to Bounce Back
Top Big 12 teams will meet once again when the Texas Longhorns play host to the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday.
Kansas is on a seven-game winning streak and won the Big 12 regular season outright after Texas’ last loss.
YOUR 2023 SOLO BIG 12 CHAMPS 🏆👀
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) March 2, 2023
Saturday’s matchup could’ve been a chance for the Longhorns to get a share of the Big 12 regular-season title, as they are tied for second in the conference with an 11-6 record, but their loss to TCU squandered that opportunity.
The Jayhawks won the first matchup between the two in early February at Allen Fieldhouse, winning 88-80. Texas will now be looking to stop a two-game losing skid while also avoiding the season sweep at home.
According to college basketball lines, Texas is a three-point favorite at home.
Kansas’ Defense Pulls Through
The Jayhawks’ seven-game win streak has been aided by their solid defense.
Kansas is fourth in the Big 12 in points allowed and second in field-goal percentage, with opponents averaging 68 points on 41.1% shooting against the Jayhawks. In their last three games, opponents averaged 65 points on 39.1% shooting against the Jayhawks.
The first matchup between Kansas and Texas was largely offensive, as the Jayhawks shot 49.2% while the Longhorns shot 47.6%. However, Kansas did turn Texas over 15 times to lead to 18 Jayhawk points.
Despite earning the Big 12 title, the Jayhawks will have plenty to play for Saturday, as they will be trying to lock up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, and college basketball odds should reflect that.
Texas’ Offense Falters
The Longhorns have the top-ranked offense in the Big 12, but they have failed to reach those numbers recently.
Texas leads the conference averaging 79 points a game on 47.2% shooting, and it hasn’t hit those numbers in its past three games, partially contributing to its two-game losing streak. In their last three games, the Longhorns have averaged 72.3 points on 43.8% shooting.
Marcus Carr leads the Longhorns averaging 16.6 points a game, but he has struggled to get going in Texas’ last two losses as well, averaging 10.5 points on 27.5% shooting in that time. He was a big factor in Texas keeping up with the Jayhawks the first time around, leading the Longhorns with 29 points on 47.6% shooting, and will be needed to grab the win.
The Longhorns will need to get back on track offensively to avenge their earlier loss to Kansas and earn a favorable seed in the confernece tournament.
Kansas vs Texas Game Injuries
Kansas vs Texas Head-to-Head
Kansas and Texas have met 33 times since 2005, with the Jayhawks holding a 25-8 lead in the series. The Jayhawks have won the last two matchups, including February’s game, but the Longhorns got the better of Kansas three times in a row prior to that.
For those making college basketball picks, Kansas has (+800) odds to win March Madness while Baylor has (+1600) odds to win.
Kansas vs Texas Game Information
- Game: Kansas (25-5, 13-4 Big 12) vs Texas (22-8, 11-6)
- Location: Moody Center, Austin, TX
- Day/Time: Saturday, March 4, 4 p.m. ET
- Kansas vs Texas Live Stream: TBS.com
Kansas vs Texas Betting Lines
Kansas vs Texas Picks & Prediction
Saturday’s matchup between Kansas and Texas will be a big one in college basketball news, as it features a top-10 matchup.
Just like the first time around, the second meeting between the Jayhawks and Longhorns should be an exciting game showcasing two of the Big 12’s top offenses. Kansas may have the superior defense, but Texas has more to play for and will be happy to return home, where the Longhorns have only lost once. The two will battle, but Texas should come out on top.
The Texas Longhorns are listed at -160 in our Vegas lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Longhorns, you have a chance to win $63. The Kansas Jayhawks are +140, offering a chance to win $140 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Texas Longhorns a 61.54% chance to win, with the Kansas Jayhawks at 41.67%.
Kansas vs Texas Trends
Kansas vs Texas Edge
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Kansas vs Texas Game Summary
