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2012 Kansas Jayhawks Final 4 Handicapping Preview | Betting Lines

NCAA Final 4 Predictions – KU

The Kansas Jayhawks were a little lucky to get to the Elite 8, as they did not look good at all in their previous 2 Big Dance games, but they looked stellar in their win over North Carolina, who was the Midwest #1 seed and a pick by many to win the NCAA tourney.

Odds to win Big Dance – 5.50
Odds to win Final 4 Game facing Ohio State – KU +2.5 / OSU -2.5 O/U 136.5

Kansas as the 3rd best odds out of the Final 4 teams to win it all, but should that be the case? They looked awesome in the win over North Carolina and they have a great inside/outside game with one of the best players in the nation in F Thomas Robinson, who averaged a double-double this season.

You know the Jayhawks are not a 1-trick pony, as even though Robinson scored 16 points in the win over UNC he was only 6/16 from the floor and KU still won by 13 points. He is a beast in the lane and can knock down the jumper as well.

The Jayhawks also have a solid backcourt with the trio of Tyshawn Taylor, Travis Releford, and Elijah Johnson, who combined for 43 points in the win over UNC. Taylor led all scorers in the UNC game going for 22 points, but while he is a solid 3-point shooter with a 3-pt FG% of 38.5% in the regular season he has missed all 17 of his 3-pt bombs in the Big Dance.

Guard play will be key for Kansas to win it all since the teams will really gear on stopping Robinson. Not only is the Jayhawks backcourt solid in scoring, but they can also hit the boards well, as the aforementioned G trio combined for 13 rebounds in the win over UNC. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

The Jayhawks also feature 7′ Jeff Withey, who was 5/5 from the floor in the UNC game and grabbed 8 boards. He can score, but his defense is key and this season the freshman was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

The Jayhawks will also be tough to stop on the boards, as Robinson and Withey can both hit the glass and the guards can as well. I mean, Kansas out-rebounded UNC by 10 and that was against a Tar Heels team that was the nation’s best rebounding team with the best frontcourt in the nation.

Just to get to the final Kansas will have to get by fellow #2 seed Ohio State, who are the favorites in the game. Kansas did beat Ohio State earlier this season, but that game was on the Jayhawks’ home court and the Buckeyes did not have Big 10 Player of the Year Jared Sullinger.

Kansas has the all-around game to win the Big Dance, but they will have to play like they did in the Elite 8 game against UNC and not their previous 2 games where they won by a combined total of 6 points.

Still, if I had to pick I think KU will stay hot and not only win the Ohio State game, but also they will beat Kentucky for the National Title.

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By Jason Green

Jason Green is back with Cappers Picks again to give out his free sports plays. As always he's hoping the Braves and Redskins can win a championship since their last one in the 90’s was long ago. He’s starting to know the pain of Cubs fans.