What was supposed to be a battle for Big 12 supremacy has turned into a do-or-die situation for West Virginia. The Mountaineers have lost their past two outings and need a big win against the Kansas Jayhawks on Tuesday to prove they belong at the top of the conference. Luckily for WVU, this game is in Morgantown and the home team has won the past seven meetings between these two programs.
- Kansas is 0-4 ATS in its last 4 games on the road against West Virginia.
- West Virginia is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games as home favorites.
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Kansas's last 10 games on the road.
If the Jayhawks want to end their struggles in Morgantown, they will need to do a better job protecting the ball, with the team averaging 12.8 turnovers per game. Press Virginia harassed Kansas last season, as the Mountaineers forced the Jayhawks into 37 turnovers in their two games – with the guard duo of Frank Mason and Devonte’ Graham accounting for 15 of those. Mason, who does have a tendency to turn the ball over, is averaging a conference-high 20.1 ppg while sitting second in assists per game.
West Virginia’s potent defense allowed an average of 84 points in those two losses last week as the Mountaineers struggled to force the turnovers they are so accustomed to. Jevon Carter has proven to be the key player for WVU, with the junior averaging 17.8 points, 7.0 assists and 3.5 steals in the past four games.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Betting fans looking to back the Kansas Jayhawks before tip-off in this one found them as 2.5-point underdogs over at Sportsbook earlier.
Kansas Jayhawks vs West Virginia Mountaineers Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Supporters of the Kansas Jayhawks have watched them go 18-1 and 6-11 ATS on the college basketball season, while the West Virginia Mountaineers are at 15-4 and 9-7 ATS. In totals betting, the West Virginia Mountaineers are 10-6, while the Kansas Jayhawks have a 8-9 mark.
The Mountaineers - Jayhawks odds would favor the Mountaineers if the lines were set according to our power ranks. West Virginia is rated No. 5 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Kansas is at No. 31.
Statistical Matchup
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and West Virginia has the nation's No. 6-rated offensive output, at 88.26 PPG. The visiting Kansas Jayhawks defense ranks No. 110 allowing on average 70.26 PPG. The Mountaineers FG% has averaged 47.91% so far, less than the West Virginia Jayhawks marksmen have achieved on the year, 50.21% per game.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Jayhawks got 18 points from Devonte' Graham as Kansas ran past Texas 79-67 on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
Tarik Phillip scored 20 points in a futile effort to lead the Mountaineers to a win (they lost 79-75 to Kansas State at Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday).
- Kansas is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
- Kansas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas's last 5 games
- Kansas is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
- West Virginia is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
- West Virginia is 15-4 SU in its last 19 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of West Virginia's last 5 games
- West Virginia is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Kansas at Kentucky, Saturday, January 28th
West Virginia at Texas A&M, Saturday, January 28th
