Kansas, the No. 4 seed in the Midwest region, could be on upset watch when it squares off against 13th-seeded Samford in the NCAA Tournament first round in Salt Lake City on Thursday.
The Jayhawks (22-10, 10-8 Big XII) have gone just 7-8 in their past 15 games and fell by 20, 72-52, to Cincinnati in the Big XII Tournament second round. Kansas may also be without second-team All-American center Hunter Dickinson (separated shoulder) and honorable mention guard Kevin McCullar Jr (knee), each of whom averages 18-plus points per game.
Samford, the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament champion, is fifth in the nation in points per game (86) and has won 29 of its past 32 games after an 0-2 start.
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No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Samford Odds & Details
- Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024
- Time: 9:55 p.m. ET
- Watch: TBS
- Location: Delta Center; Salt Lake City, Utah
- Spread: Kansas -8 (-110, bet365); Samford +8.5 (-108, DraftKings),
- Moneyline: Kansas (-345, Caesars); Samford (+333, BetMGM)
- Total: Over: 153 Points (-110, Caesars) / Under 153.5 Points (-110, FanDuel)
Kansas vs Samford Betting Preview
Kansas may have a better résumé and brand profile, but it is limping into March Madness. The Jayhawks have lost two straight by an average of 25 points and are scoring just 66 points per game while going 1-4 in their final five games.
It sounds like Dickinson is far more likely to play Thursday than McCullar, yet each’s status is up in the air. As if that’s not concerning enough for Jayhawks, they got a nasty draw in Samford, which ranks seventh in the nation in 3-point percentage (.393), 12th in assists per game (17.5), and 10th in steals per game (10.0).
The Bulldogs also are super-deep, regularly playing 11 and rotating as many as 13 players, led by 6-9 forward Achor Achor. Achor leads Samford in points, rebounds and blocks per game. They won 17 straight games after falling at Purdue and VCU to open the season.
It’d be an all-time NCAA Tournament upset, but I’m picking Samford to take down Kansas.
PREDICTION: Samford wins 85-80
BET: Samford Moneyline (+333)
BET: Samford +8.5 (-108)
BET: Over 153 (-110)
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