Miami vs Kansas Elite Eight Picks: Jayhawks Get Caught in Hurricane

The Kansas Jayhawks face off against the Miami Hurricanes in the Elite Eight on Sunday afternoon.

The Jayhawks are the lone No. 1 seed left in the NCAA Tournament, and college basketball betting lines opened with them installed as 6-point favorites for this contest which will take place at the United Center in Chicago.

Here are our free March Madness picks and predictions for Miami vs. Kansas on March 27.

Miami vs Kansas odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

This line hit the board at Kansas -6.5 but has shortened to -6 as of 4 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Over/Under has stayed steady at 147.5.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.

Miami vs Kansas predictions

• Prediction: Miami +6 (-110)
• Prediction: Under 147.5 (-110)
• Best bet: McCormack Under 9.5 points (+100)

Predictions made on 3/26/2022 at 3:55 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Miami vs Kansas game info

• Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Date: Sunday, March 27, 2022
• Tip-off: 2:20 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS

Miami vs Kansas betting preview

Injuries

Miami: Harlond Beverly G (Out).
Kansas: Bob Pettiford G (Out).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Hurricanes are 5-1 ATS in their last six NCAA Tournament games as an underdog, while the Jayhawks are 2-5 ATS in their previous seven tournament games as a favorite. Find more NCAA betting trends for Miami vs. Kansas.

Miami vs Kansas picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Spread analysis

With Gonzaga and Arizona getting upset on Thursday night, Bill Self and the Jayhawks are the only No. 1 seed to advance into the Elite Eight after holding off Providence in the Sweet 16 on Friday night.

The Jayhawks held the Friars to just 17 points in the first half, but they allowed them back into the game with a 21-8 run in the second. Kansas was able to pull away in the end but didn't cover as 7-point chalk, the second-straight game where it failed to cover.

The Jayhawks are now the favorite to win the national title at +275 and have won eight straight games but they could be pushed by a Hurricanes squad that is peaking at the right time. 

Miami has one of the top offensive teams in the country, ranking 20th in the nation with a 47.7 FG% while turning the ball over on just 13.6% of their possessions — the sixth-best number in the country. However, the Canes had struggled defensively, allowing opponents to shoot a sizzling 46.6% from the floor entering the tournament.

That's changed in a big way with Miami allowing just 61 points per game on 37.4 FG% in three tournament games. Although shutting down Iowa State's offense on Friday might not seem that impressive, locking down Auburn's high-octane offense in the previous round was an eye-opener.

The Hurricanes also played very well offensively against the Cyclones and Tigers, shooting 47% from the field and turning the ball over a total of 17 times against two of the top defenses in the country. Miami's best offensive player Kameron McGusty has been leading the way, dropping 27 points against ISU and 20 versus Auburn.

On the other hand, the Jayhawks' best player Ochai Agbaji is averaging just 10.3 points per game on 33.3 FG% in the tourney after being named Big 12 Player of the Year with 19.8 ppg on 47.7 FG% during the regular season. 

With the Hurricanes playing well on both ends of the floor and the Jayhawks allowing opponents to stick around while their best player is in the midst of a slump, we'll take the underdogs with the points. 

Prediction: Miami +6 (-110)

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Over/Under analysis

While the Jayhawks excelled on offense throughout the regular season, they were heavily reliant on Agbaji. With the big man struggling to make a difference, impact reserve Remy Martin has stepped up but the Jayhawks have still taken a massive step back in terms of offensive efficiency.

Kansas is shooting just 40% from the field in its last two games and now takes on a Hurricanes squad that has been doing an excellent job of rotating on the perimeter and pressuring opposing ballhandlers. 

That said, while Kansas has taken a step back offensively, it continues to play well on defense and is allowing just 63.8 points per game in its last eight contests.

Both of these teams have also played lower-scoring games against quality opponents. The Under is 9-3 in Miami's last 12 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600, while the Jayhawks are 6-2 to the Under in their previous eight contests in the same situation. Take the Under. 

Prediction: Under 147.5 (-110)

Best bet

Jayhawks center David McCormack has been invisible lately and is coming off a forgettable performance against Creighton where he went just 2-5 from the floor for 8 points while adding two rebounds.

The senior has failed to crack the 10-point plateau in five of his last six games and it's fair to wonder how much an ongoing foot injury has been affecting him.

In theory, McCormack should be a mismatch for Miami's smaller lineup but the Hurricanes have done a fantastic job of shutting down top big men like Isaiah Mobley, Jabari Smith, and Walker Kessler during this tourney run.

We're taking the Under 9.5 on McCormack's points total.

Pick: McCormack Under 9.5 points (+100)

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