UCLA Bruins at Kansas Jayhawks

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Kansas Jayhawks (-16.5)
Game Total Line: (147)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

The UCLA Bruins will face their second top 10 team in little over a week when they head to Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence for a Thursday night matchup with the No. 4 ranked Kansas Jayhawks in the Big 12/Pac 10 Hardwood Series. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

No one can say that UCLA has shied away from playing some tough competition in its early non-conference schedule this season. Besides tonight’s contest, the Bruins have already faced No. 7 Villanova and later this month have a date with No. 25 BYU.

They were a 5.5 point underdog in last week’s semifinal game against the Wildcats in the NIT Season Tip-Off, but could only manage to keep as close as 12 points in an 82-70 loss. UCLA kept the game competitive in the second half after trailing by 14 at the half, but in the end could not keep up with the speed and athleticism of Villanova. Junior guard Malcolm Lee led the Bruins with 13 points and sophomore forward Reeves Nelson added 10 points and 13 rebounds in the losing effort.

UCLA could not bounce back in the consolation game, losing to Virginia Commonwealth 89-85 two nights later. This time around the Bruins failed to cover as a 1.5 point favorite and the total went ‘over’ the 148.5 point line. They had their chances to pull out the win, trailing 80-79 with a little less than two minutes to play, but could not find a way to close the gap. Once again, Lee led the way for UCLA with 23 points and Nelson added another double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Kansas is off to a solid start with double-digit blowouts in five of its first six games. The Jayhawks closest call of the season was an 87-79 win over Arizona in the finals of the Las Vegas Invitational this past Saturday night. They just barely missed covering as a nine-point favorite and the total went ‘over’ the 144 point line. Seven Kansas players scored in double-figures led by junior forward Marcus Morris’s 16 points. Sophomore forward Thomas Robinson and sophomore guard Travis Releford combined for 24 points off the bench.

Through six games, the Morris twins have led the way for the Jayhawks. Marcus is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 19 points a game and 6.3 rebounds, while his brother Markieff leads in rebounds with 9.5 per game and is also the team’s second leading scorer with 12.3 points per game. Junior guard Tyshawn Taylor leads in assists, averaging 7.3 per game.

UCLA is 3-2 straight-up on the year and 2-3 against the spread. This will be the Bruins first road game as they are 3-0 SU at home and 0-2 SU at a neutral sight. The total has gone ‘over’ in three of their first four games overall.

Kansas is 6-0 SU and 3-1 ATS overall. The Jayhawks are 4-0 SU at home and 2-0 ATS. The total has been evenly split at 2-2 in their first four games with a line.

ATS Game Pick

These two teams played one another once last season with Kansas coming out on top 73-61, but the Jayhawks failed to cover as a 15.5 point home favorite. The total stayed ‘under’ the 135.5 point line. This time around Kansas should once again for a healthy favorite and for good reason. The Bruins have a solid core of young talent but they are really no match for one of the top teams in the country especially on the road. Stick with Kansas all the way in this one.
Take Kansas -16.5 at Sportsbook.com.