Hunter Dickinson Over 27.5 Points + Rebounds
I finally picked the right Kansas player to bet on. Even though the Jayhawks lost in heartbreaking fashion, Dickinson put up 17 points and eight rebounds, which put him one over the total of 24.5 that we bet on. I'm going back to the well again in a matchup that he absolutely dominated in their first game.
Back on January 5th, Kansas faced UCF after losing their conference opener for the first time in 34 years. They were clearly upset about breaking that streak, because they throttled the Knights. A 19-point halftime lead bloomed to 51 by the time the second half clock hit zero. Dickinson was the focal point of the onslaught on the offensive end.
In just 23 minutes, the big man scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds. He was 12-16 from the floor and also added three blocks, a steal, and an assist. While I don't expect him to recreate that level of efficiency (his season high FG% and second most shots made), he doesn't need to. He is averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds on the season, so he just needs to be slightly above those numbers to cash this bet. He has hit this number eight times this season, so I will take a chance on him doing it a ninth time against a team he has already dominated once before.
Kansas -12.5
I know what you're thinking, and yes, this is a VERY big line for this year's Kansas team. They have beaten a power conference opponent by 15 or more just three times this season and are coming off a double overtime loss just three days ago. However, the matchup with UCF is one of the most advantageous on the schedule for the Jayhawks.
As I mentioned with the Dickinson bet, this game was a bloodbath in the first meeting. The Jayhawks dominated from start to finish en route to the 51-point win. KJ Adams did play in that game and provided seven points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. His defense was one of the main reasons the Knights scored just 48 points. Since he's been out, the defense has gotten a bit worse and the offense has gotten a bit better.
The offense can't be much better than the 99 points they scored in this first matchup. If the defense is worse than it was in the first game, maybe this game isn't over a couple minutes into the second half. However, even if it is a closer game, it could still be a big win for the Jayhawks. Rylan Griffen and Flory Bidunga have found their stride and are finding their rhythm within the team. The pair combined for 26 points on 10-12 shooting in the first meeting. Again, I don't expect them to shoot a combined 83-percent again. They just need to be good for the Jayhawks to win in convincing fashion again. In the loss to Houston, they 12-17 and scored 36 points. Anything close to that will almost guarantee a Kansas win, when you consider Dickinson and Zeke Mayo are the leading scorers and will get their points as well.
One last factor for backing the Jayhawks is the result of their last game. On Saturday night, they had a chance to knock off the first place team in the Big 12 and move within a game of them in the standings. They had a four-point lead with 18 seconds left in regulation. They had a six-point lead and were shooting two free throws with 18 seconds left in overtime. They lost. I don't imagine they had a fun couple of days preparing for this game. They are going to be pissed off and I wouldn't be surprised if they dominate for 40 minutes again.