Expect a shootout when the No. 13 Kansas Jayhawks (20-6, 9-4 Big 12) and the No. 20 West Virginia Mountaineers (19-7, 8-5 Big 12) square off at Allen Fieldhouse. Action gets underway at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 17, 2018, and it can be seen on ESPN.
West Virginia Mountaineers at Kansas Jayhawks Odds Preview
In the Mountaineers last game, they beat the TCU Horned Frogs, 82-66. Teddy Allen was the top scorer from either team with 16 points on 8-for-13 shooting. West Virginia played a nearly perfect game. They had a fantastic offensive rebounding percentage of 50.0 (above their season average of 36.9) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.582 (above their season average of 0.499). For those same stats, TCU was 37.8 and 0.482, respectively.
The Jayhawks will look to keep it rolling after topping the Iowa State Cyclones in their last matchup, 83-77. Kansas was led by Malik Newman, who had 17 points and six rebounds. The Jayhawks had a solid turnover percentage of 8.9 (better than their season average of 14.7) and had a better effective field goal percentage (0.556 vs. 0.517).
This matchup pits one of the nations top offenses against one of its elite defenses. Kansas currently ranks 19th in offensive efficiency and West Virginia ranks 24th in defensive efficiency. Also, the Mountaineers could control the offensive glass in this battle as they rank fourth in the NCAA in offensive rebounding percentage at 37.3 percent. The Jayhawks, meanwhile, rank 287th at grabbing defensive rebounds with a defensive rebounding percentage of 68.7 percent.
These teams have already met once this season. The Jayhawks won 71-66. The Jayhawks played a nearly perfect game. They had a turnover percentage of 16.4 and an effective field goal percentage of 0.508. The Mountaineers were 19.2 and 0.444, respectively, for those same stats. In the loss, Sagaba Konate had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
West Virginia Mountaineers at Kansas Jayhawks Free Prediction
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Kansas, ATS Winner – Kansas, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The Mountaineers rank 10th in steals per game (8.5) while the Jayhawks rank 95th (6.6).
- Kansas averages 17.2 assists per game, which ranks 17th in the nation. West Virginia ranks 66th in assists allowed per game (12.1).
- West Virginia averages 25.7 three pointers per game, which ranks 38th in the nation. Kansas ranks 232nd in three pointers allowed per game (24.0).
- The Mountaineers rank 43rd in rebounds per game (38.6) while the Jayhawks rank 204th in rebounds allowed per game (36.2).
- Kansas averages 4.3 blocks per game, which ranks 44th in the nation. West Virginia ranks 156th in blocks allowed per game (3.9).
Betting Trends:
- The Jayhawks average margin of victory in their last five games has been 1.2, down from 11.0 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Mountaineers have scored an average of 81.6 points per game (0.6 above their season average) and allowed an average of 74.2 points per game (6.2 above their season average).
