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Cincinnati vs Kansas Prediction & Best Bets (Big 12 Tournament 2nd Round): Bearcats Look to Bounce Banged-Up Jayhawks in K.C.
Written by: Eddie Griffin
Last Updated:
Read Time: 5 minutes
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The Cincinnati Bearcats face long odds to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, but as long as they remain alive in the Big 12 Tournament, they still have a chance. Tonight, the Bearcats get to battle with a shorthanded Kansas team with a quarterfinal matchup with Baylor at stake.
While the Bearcats are fighting to keep their March Madness hopes alive, the Jayhawks have no such worries.
However, the vibes could certainly be better for Kansas right now.
The Jayhawks, who were ranked number one to start the season, finished outside of the top three in the Big 12 for the first time since 2000. Their eight conference losses are their most in a Big 12 season and their most in conference play since Roy Williams’ first team went 6-8 in the Big 8 in the 1988-89 season.
Also, KU won’t have the services of Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar in Kansas City. McCullar has been bothered by a bone bruise in his knee, while Dickinson suffered a dislocated shoulder in last Saturday’s shellacking at Houston.
That is bad news for Kansas’s hopes to potentially improve where they land on Selection Sunday. But it is good news for Cincinnati, who is favored to move on to face the third-seeded Bears tomorrow (9:30 pm ET, ESPN or ESPN2).
Cincinnati vs Kansas Odds
Odds are via BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on today’s NCAA basketball action.
Spread
- Cincinnati -2.5 (-114)
- Kansas +2.5 (-106)
Over/Under
- Over 138.5 (-115)
- Under 138.5 (-105)
Moneyline
- Cincinnati -150
- Kansas +130
Looking for more men’s college hoops picks for tonight’s schedule? Our NCAA basketball picks page features moneyline, spread, and total (over/under) picks for all of today’s top games.
Cincinnati vs Kansas Betting Analysis and Prediction
Realistically speaking, it would likely take the Bearcats reaching Saturday’s championship game to build a decent bubble case. But you have to walk before you run, and you have to crawl before you walk, and Cincinnati won’t get to tomorrow if they don’t get through today.
It looked like they weren’t going to get through yesterday, as they trailed nine-win West Virginia by 16 with under a dozen minutes left just days after mauling the Mountaineers by 36.
But the Bearcats battled back, outscoring the Mountaineers 42-21 the rest of the way in a 90-85 win.
That sets up a matchup with Kansas, who got challenged by Cincinnati in a 74-69 win at Allen Fieldhouse on January 22.
That was with Dickinson and McCullar in the lineup, so the Bearcats should feel rather hopeful heading into this one.
Of course, it’s not as if the Jayhawks were setting the world on fire while healthy, as their alarming inability to find much success away from home has been an issue since the start of Big 12 play.
It would be silly to write them off just because they’re shorthanded. After all, Kansas City has been a happy home for Kansas in March. Ten of their 12 Big 12 Tournament titles have been won there.
But look at the current state they are in. They are down their top two players in McCullar (18.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.1 APG) and Dickinson (18.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG). They lost three of their last four games to close the regular season, with the most recent one being one of the ugliest losses in program history. So, little should be expected of Kansas tonight, especially with this being a far less significant game for them than for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati vs Kansas Best Bets
Day Day Thomas over 10.5 points & Nicolas Timberlake over 11.5 points
While I do think the Bearcats will win, I’m opting against any game sides or totals here and riding with a couple of player props.
Thomas led the way against West Virginia with a season-high seven threes and 29 points (10 of 18 FG, 7 of 10 3PT, 2 of 2 FT). He had 11 or more points in consecutive games only once in Big 12 regular season play, but I love the value here.
Timberlake (4.6 PPG, 37.9% FG, 28.9% 3PT) hasn’t had the season many might have expected him to after he transferred from Towson, but with Dickinson and McCullar sidelined, he will be counted on to make some shots tonight. Even if he doesn’t shoot well, I think he will get over the line thanks to volume.
Other NCAA Basketball Betting Information
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