Two teams that started the season great but have had recent struggles in the Big 12 will clash this afternoon in Norman, as the Kansas Jayhawks take on the Oklahoma Sooners.
The Jayhawks have lost five of their last 11 games and find themselves mid-pack in the Big 12 standings at 7-5 in conference play. The Sooners have lost six of their last 11 games and are 6-6 in Big 12 play. Will the Jayhawks bounce back from a crushing defeat and cover in the college basketball odds on the road?
Here are our free college basketball picks and predictions for Kansas vs. Oklahoma on Saturday, February 17.
Kansas vs Oklahoma best odds
Kansas vs Oklahoma picks and predictions
These programs met a month ago and the Kansas Jayhawks easily covered with a 78-66 home win. Kansas was the third-ranked team in the country and the Oklahoma Sooners were ninth. Now, the Sooners find themselves down to 25th and Kansas is coming off a 29-point loss at Texas Tech.
The Jayhawks have been dreadful in true road games this season at both 2-5 straight up and against the spread. They only have one road win in Big 12 play and that was against the worst team in the conference, Oklahoma State. Meanwhile, the Sooners are 13-2 at home with impressive wins over both Iowa State and BYU.
Kansas is seen as a legitimate contender, but its numbers do not reflect this notion. The Jayhawks are ranked 20th in KenPom and rely heavily on getting buckets in the paint. They rank sixth in the country in field-goal percentage, but only 24.1% of their points come from the 3-point line (318th nationally). The Jayhawks also rank 331st in 3-point attempts with only 17.5 per game.
On the other end, Oklahoma is fantastic at defending the 3-ball, holding opponents to just 28.9% from downtown, which ranks 13th in the country. The Sooners rank 23rd in defensive efficiency and 47th in points allowed per game at 66.6, and only four opponents have scored more than 70 points in Norman.
Since the start of conference play, only two opponents have made double-digit threes against the Sooners. The Jayhawks shot 6-for-20 from downtown in their first matchup this season, and Kansas has never made more than seven threes in a road game, averaging 5.3 per road game.
Johnny Furphy is one of the Jayhawks’ best deep shooters, but he has been inconsistent on the road. He was only 1 of 4 from deep in the previous matchup in 19 minutes and is 11 of 30 from range in seven true road games.
My best bet: Johnny Furphy Under 1.5 made threes (+105 at DraftKings)
Kansas vs Oklahoma same-game parlay
Johnny Furphy Under 1.5 made threes
Hunter Dickinson Over 9.5 rebounds
Johnny Furphy Under 11.5 points
The Jayhawks will be the opposite of the Sooners and force their opponent to shoot lots of threes. Unless the Sooners shoot lights out, this will cause a lot of defensive rebounding opportunities for the Jayhawks, who rank 22nd in defensive boards per game at 28.2.
The biggest advantage in grabbing defensive boards for Kansas goes to Hunter Dickinson, who averages 8.3 per game. In the first matchup, Dickinson had 12 defensive boards and 14 total rebounds. We can get his number here at 9.5.
Finally, we will finish with Furphy’s point total. If he does not get two threes, then it is extremely unlikely he gets to 12 points total. He only had seven points in their last matchup and averages only 10 on the road.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Best college basketball bonuses
All Users
Instant payout for CBB moneylines
If your team goes up by 18! Claim Now
All UsersGet a 33% boost on any CBB wager today
e.g. +310 BOOSTS to +412! Claim Now
Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2024.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Kansas vs Oklahoma spread and Over/Under analysis
The Sooners are fantastic at home and the Jayhawks are terrible on the road. However, despite a 13-2 home record, the Sooners are only 8-7 ATS in Norman. But since they are underdogs, you get to look more at the 13-2 record, as this is the first time all season that Oklahoma will be home dogs.
Oklahoma is a great defensive team and will force Kansas to outscore it from within the 3-point line. The Sooners are also a fantastic rebounding team, ranking 31st in the nation in rebounding percentage (53.7%). Kansas will need to shoot very efficiently if it wants to avoid a fifth consecutive road loss.
The last matchup went Over the total, but the Sooners are typically involved in higher-scoring games away from their home court. The Under has hit in nine of the 15 games played in Norman. This is a slight lean towards the Under because of how well Oklahoma defends the three-point line and how few threes the Jayhawks shoot, but it is not a confident play.
Kansas vs Oklahoma betting trend to know
Kansas has hit the Game Total Under in 20 of their last 34 games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Kansas vs. Oklahoma.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
Kansas vs Oklahoma game info
| Location: | Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, OK |
| Date: | Saturday, February 17, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
Kansas vs Oklahoma key injuries
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the 
to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
