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Kansas vs. Baylor Prediction, Odds and Key Players for Saturday, March 2

By Iain MacMillan

Feb 24, 2024; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Parker Braun (23) celebrates with guard
Feb 24, 2024; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Parker Braun (23) celebrates with guard / Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
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One of the biggest games on Saturday's college basketball slate is a Big 12 showdown between No. 7 Kansas and No. 15 Baylor.

The two teams are tied at 9-6 in the Big 12 and they have four other teams directly behind them at 8-7. Kansas will try its best to bounce back after an upset loss to BYU and Baylor is looking to string together its second straight win.

The Jayhawks edged out the 64-61 win in the first meeting between these two teams but now they have to hit the road and take on the Bears at Foster Pavilion.

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Kansas vs. Baylor odds, spread, and total

Kansas vs. Baylor betting trends

  • Kansas is 2-4 ATS in its last six games
  • The UNDER is 4-1 in Kansas' last five games
  • Kansas is 15-5 straight up in its last 20 games vs. Baylor
  • Kansas is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 road games vs. Baylor
  • Baylor is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games
  • The UNDER is 12-5 in the last 17 meetings between these two teams

Kansas vs. Baylor how to watch

  • Date: Saturday, March 2
  • Game time: 1 p.m. EST
  • Venue: Foster Pavilion
  • How to watch (TV): ABC
  • Kansas record: 21-7 (9-6 in Big 12)
  • Baylor record: 20-8 (9-6 in Big 12)

Kansas vs. Baylor key players to watch

Kansas

Elmarko Jackson: The key players for the Jayhawks isn't anyone in the starting five. Instead, it's the bench players like Elmarko Jackson who need to step up for them. Their lack of depth has cost them at times this season and if they want to beat Baylor and make a run in March, 4.0 points in 18.8 minutes off the bench isn't going to cut it.

Baylor

Yves Missi: Baylor's center is going to be the key player for the Bears in this game, not because of what he can do offensively but what he'll be asked to do defensively against Hunter Dickinson. He kept Dickinson to shooting 7-of-9 from the field in the first game between these two teams while putting up 21 points himself. If he can do that again, Baylor will be in a good spot.

Kansas vs. Baylor prediction and pick

The last time these two teams met, Kansas managed to squeak out the win but Baylor largely shut down Dickinson down low. I don't expect that to be the case again on Saturday considering the Bears rank 226th in opponent two-point field goal percentage this season, allowing their opponents to shoot 51.4% from two-point range.

Baylor has also had an issue with turnovers this season, ranking 208th in turnovers per possession. That could come back to haunt them again on Saturday.

Let's trust the best players for the Jayhawks to get hot and keep this game close against the Bears in Saturday's Big 12 showdown.

Pick: Kansas +4.5

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

You can check out all of Iain's bets here!

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