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Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self.
Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Two top-15 teams in the Big 12 meet on Monday’s college basketball slate.
Bill Self and No. 14 Kansas host No. 5 Houston at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Cougars opened as 1.5-point favorites on the road, with the Over/Under sitting at 136.5 points, per BetMGM.
Simply put, both teams had forgetful weekends, as the Cougars fell to No. 2 Arizona on Saturday night. The Jayhawks were stunned by Cincinnati at the Phog, losing by sixteen points to the unranked Bearcats.
Houston vs. Kansas: Prediction, best bet
Houston is trying to avoid a rare three-game losing streak during Kelvin Sampson’s coaching tenure.
The Cougars also lost to No. 4 Iowa State in disappointing fashion last Monday. After holding a double-digit lead in the second half, their offense went cold, leading to a three-point defeat at the hands of the Cyclones.
To Houston’s credit, both losses came against highly ranked teams, and its smothering, eighth-ranked defensive efficiency per KenPom stayed true; it was the Cougars’ inability to generate offense that cost them.
Kingston Flemings #4 of the Houston Cougars. Getty ImagesThe guard trio of Kingston Flemings, Emmanuel Sharp, and Milos Uzan is as good as any in the country. Coach Sampson must identify a closer from the group to avoid a stagnant, predictable offense down the stretch.
On the other end of the floor, Self and the Jayhawks’ impressive 40-0 record in Big Monday games is in jeopardy.
Kansas sleepwalked and frankly didn’t take the Bearcats seriously, as it showed. They shot just 4-for-18 from 3, and trailed by as many as 19 points in Saturday’s defeat.
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson (22) attempts a 3-point basket. APFreshman sensation Darryn Peterson scored 17 points and played 32 minutes; however, his habit of subbing himself out of games has been a national talking point.
The 6-foot-6 NBA-bound prospect is undoubtedly gifted, capable of scoring at all three levels, but Peterson’s motor and overall availability remain in question.
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Kansas has not lost back-to-back home games since 1989.
The Cougars have won the last three head-to-head meetings against Kansas, including a double overtime thriller last January.
It’s a close one to call, but back Self and the Jayhawks at home. This season, they are 5-1 against the spread (ATS) following a loss. I am also leaning toward the over.
The Plays: Kansas +1.5 (-110, BetMGM) | Over 136.5 total points (-105, DraftKings)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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