by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Jan 17, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, OK
Where to watch: ESPN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: NL
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: NL
Season record
No. 7 Kansas: 14-2 (3-1 Big 12)
Oklahoma: 12-5 (2-3 Big 12)
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Kansas - Oklahoma preview, analysis and prediction
With a chance to win a third straight game after a tough road loss against a red-hot Texas Tech team, I like the Kansas Jayhawks to keep the winning times rolling against the Oklahoma Sooners on Tuesday in Norman.
Following their first loss in nine games on Jan. 8 against the Red Raiders, the Jayhawks rebounded with two hard-fought home wins against No. 15 Iowa State and West Virginia last week. Kansas took a 2-point lead into halftime before erupting for a 52-28 rout in the second half against the Mountaineers.
Kansas was one point from David McCormack from three players reaching 20 points. McCormack finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds; even more bizarre is that 10 of them came on the offensive glass while the forward finished 9 of 13 shooting.
Jalen Wilson finished with 23 points and eight rebounds, and Ochai Agbaji also had 20 points and seven rebounds while making four 3-pointers.
"I thought everyone played well. David and J-Will, they played their best games of the season," Agbaji said. "We were just aggressive in the second half. We were aggressive defensively, offensively, trying to find our places, and when we were able to make a jump and make a run, that's when we took it."
After covering three straight from Dec. 3-11, Kansas has fallen off a tad against the spread, going 3-4 from the books. The Jayhawks covered as 11.5-point favorites against West Virginia, while the books were more than generous as 13.5-point favorites in the 1-point win over the Cyclones.
The Jayhawks have won four of the last five in the series, which I’d say bodes well against this version of the Sooners that have lost three of four and are coming off a 59-58 overtime loss at TCU on Saturday. Oklahoma led by seven in the second half before missing 16 of its next 19 shots.
Kansas is 26-14 against the spread in its last 40 conference games and have also been very good on the road when favored, being 12-6 against the spread and 14-4 straight up as a road favorite or a pick. While Oklahoma is 19-12 ATS as an underdog, the Sooners are 13-18 straight up in that regard. Give me the Jayhawks in a cruising victory. Kansas by 13
Betting trends
The over is 4-0 in Kansas' last four following an ATS win.
The over is 5-1 in Kansas' last six road games.
Oklahoma is 1-4 ATS in their last five Tuesday games.
Projected starting lineup
Kansas:
PG: Dajuan Harris Jr.
SG: Ochai Agbaji
SF: Christian Braun
PF: K.J. Adams
C: Jalen Wilson
SF: Christian Braun
PF: K.J. Adams
C: Jalen Wilson
Oklahoma:
PG: Elijah Harkless
SG: Umoja Gibson
SF: Jordan Goldwire
PF: Jalen Hill
C: Tanner Groves
SF: Jordan Goldwire
PF: Jalen Hill
C: Tanner Groves
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
