Kansas (23-4) at Baylor (23-5)
When: Saturday, February 26th 2022
Where: Ferrell Center,
Waco, TX
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Baylor -3.5/150.5
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The fifth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks will attempt to pad their lead in the Big 12 Conference this Saturday, but it won’t be an easy task. The Jayhawks travel to Waco, Texas to take on the No. 10 Baylor Bears and looking to sweep the season series. Kansas is seeking a 20th Big 12 regular-season title, but the Bears are the reigning conference and national champions. Tuesday night was an easy tune-up for the Jayhawks, who handled rival Kansas State 102-83 behind 64.1 percent shooting and 15 three-pointers. The win kept both Baylor and Texas Tech 1.5 games behind with four left for the Jayhawks and three each for the Bears and Red Raiders. Kansas is just 13-13 ATS on the season, but have covered each of their last three.
The Bears are just 2-5-1 ATS over their last eight games but 5-3 straight up to keep pace in the standings. Baylor is also coming off a win Monday – a 66-64 nail-bitter versus Oklahoma State in overtime. Baylor was humiliated by Kansas in the first meeting back on Feb. 5 in Lawrence. The Jayhawks raced out to an 18-point halftime lead in the 83-59 romp. The Bears did get the better of Kansas last year in Waco 77-69 but have filed to cover the last four meetings. Baylor is 13-2 at home this season with an 8-6-1 ATS mark including 2-1-1 in their last four at Ferrell Center. Game time is set for 8:00 ET on ESPN with the Bears as slight favorites.
The win over Kansas State on Tuesday was tied for the best offensive output by the Jayhawks this season. Ochai Ogbaji led the way again with 23 points in 35 minutes and passed Wilt Chamberlain for the 26th spot in the all-time Kansas scoring list. Ogbaji and Christian Braun each scored 18 points in the first meeting with Baylor and combined for 19 of the Jayhawks’ 46 total rebounds as against just 37 by Baylor. Collectively, they connected on 17 of 25 shots against Kansas State and contributed 43 points. The Jayhawks are No. 1 in the conference in effective field goal percentage, 3-point shooting percentage, and 2-point shooting percentage.
Adam Flagler came up big in the win over Oklahoma State on Monday, contributing 29 points in 41 minutes of action. James Akinjo scored just six points but came up with a huge bucket with just 14 seconds remaining in overtime. Baylor only shot 36.8 percent for the game and maybe were looking ahead to this week’s matchup with Kansas. The defense stepped up by forcing 15 turnover while also recording nine steals. In the first meeting with Kansas, the Bears had 12 steals to just six by the Jayhawks and forced 14 Kansas turnover. Flagler had just 16 points in the game and was 6-of-15 shooting. Baylor will play at Texas on Monday.
Kansas is playing really well right now, but it’s tough to win on the road when you knot only have a target on your back, but the other team is out for revenge. I’ll lay the points with Baylor here.
Pick: Baylor -3.5
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