Round 2 – Boilermakers vs Jayhawks CBB Handicapping Prediction
Kansas played stifling defense in their easy opening round Big Dance win, but it is Purdue that will have to play good D against a stacked Kansas team if they are going to pull off the upset.
Venue/ Stadium: CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha, NE
Time/Date: 8:40 PM EST Sunday, March 17, 2012
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: Purdue +300 / Kansas -360
Spread (ATS): Kansas -8
Over/Under: 142
Purdue Boilermakers vs. Kansas Jayhawks Preview
NCAAB lines have Kansas as 8-point favorites in this game with a total of 142.
In their last games Purdue beat St. Mary’s 72-69 and Kansas easily beat Detroit 65-50.
This season Kansas is 17-15-1 ATS with an O/U record of 12-19 and Purdue is 17-14 ATS with an O/U record of 12-19-2.
Purdue shot over 45% from the field in the win over St. Mary’s with guards Terone Johnson and Lewis Jackson combining to score 39 points.
Boilermakers leading scorer and rebounder Robbie Hummel was only 3/9 from the field for 10 points in the win over St. Mary’s and while his offense will be needed in this game his defense and work on the boards may be more important. He and the Purdue frontcourt has a tall task in this game trying to contain Player of the Year candidate Thomas Robinson and 7′ C Jeff Withey.
Hummel will really need some help to keep Kansas from dominating the boards, as not only is he the only Purdue player averaging over 4 rpg, but overall the Boilermakers only rank 246th in the nation in rebounds per game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Purdue forced St. Mary’s into 11 turnovers and they will have to force some in this game. Kansas 2nd leading scorer Tyshawn Taylor dealt with cramps in the Detroit win, but should be 100% for this game.
Purdue shot a 3-pt FG% of over 31% in the win over St. Mary’s and with the solid frontcourt Kansas has the Boilermakers must shoot the long ball well. If the Kansas’ guards and keep that from happening they should have no problem winning this game.
Kansas has lost this season when Robinson and Withey get in foul trouble and Hummel and the Purdue guards will have to attack the basket and not just settle for jumpers.
In some betting trends for this Midwest Region game Purdue is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games, and they have an Under record of 7-1 in their last 8 non-conference games.
Kansas is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5, 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win, and they have an Under record of 7-2 in their last 9 neutral site games as a favorite.
Jason’s Pick: Kansas is simply too strong inside and outside and their defense will play well in this game, as I see the Jayhawks easily winning this game and covering the spread.
