Baylor vs. Kansas Basketball Prediction, Odds & Picks (Monday, Jan. 23)

Baylor Bears guard Keyonte George (1) shoots a free throw against the Kansas State Wildcats during the first half at Ferrell Center.
Image Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Big Monday has been a staple in the college basketball world for years, and it usually features some of the best matchups of the week. It doesn’t disappoint this time around, as No. 21 Baylor is set to face No. 2 Kansas on Monday, Jan. 23. The game is scheduled for 9 pm ET while airing on ESPN. Baylor enters this game as 2-point favorites with the total set at 149. How will this one play out? More importantly, which side should you place a wager on? Let’s dive into the Baylor vs. Kansas predictions below.

Baylor vs. Kansas Odds

  • Spread: Baylor -2
  • Total: 149

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. New to FanDuel? Check out our FanDuel Sportsbook Review to find out how to bet $5 to get $150 in free bets. This is FanDuel’s best offer of the year, and it expires on Jan. 31 — so act now! 

Game Info

  • Date: Monday, Jan. 23
  • Time: 9 pm ET
  • Location: Ferrell Center — Waco, TX
  • TV: ESPN

Baylor Betting Trends

  • KenPom Ranking: No. 14
  • Bears are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
  • Bears are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
  • Over is 5-2 in Bears last 7 overall.

Kansas Betting Trends

  • KenPom Ranking: No. 9
  • Jayhawks are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
  • Underdog is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
  • Over is 17-8 in Jayhawks last 25 road games.

Baylor vs. Kansas Game Preview

The Kansas Jayhawks are currently 2-point underdogs while facing the Baylor Bears on the road. The Jayhawks are coming off an embarrassing 83-60 loss to TCU on Saturday, their second-largest home loss under Bill Self. Because of that, Kansas is looking at a three-game losing streak if it drops this contest at Baylor.

One positive for the Jayhawks is that star player Jalen Wilson has been on a roll. The junior forward is coming off back-to-back 30-plus-point outings in their last two losses and is the top scorer in the Big 12. Furthermore, Kansas is a team that is known for its defense, ranked No. 19 in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom.com.

On the other hand, the Baylor Bears are coming off a four-game winning streak and are considered one of the hotter teams in the country. According to KenPom, they have the second-best adjusted offensive efficiency in the nation. However, Baylor hasn’t been great against top teams in the Big 12. The Bears lost 77-62 at Iowa State on Dec. 31, fell to TCU by one point at home on Jan. 4, and also lost a close home contest vs. Kansas State. This meeting against Kansas figures to be another tight game throughout, as the two-point spread implies.

Baylor vs. Kansas Prediction

Kansas is a talented team that is desperate to avenge its demoralizing loss from a few days ago, but the Bears have the benefit of one of the best offenses in the country while playing in front of its home crowd. On top of that, the Jayhawks have struggled on the road this season with a 0-4 ATS record. All these factors suggest that Baylor has a good chance of pulling out the win and covering the spread vs. KU.

The Pick: Baylor -2 | -105 at FanDuel Sportsbook

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