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Kansas Odds-On -125 Favorite in Big 12 Tournament Opening Odds

Eric Rosales

by Eric Rosales in College Basketball

Updated Mar 30, 2021 · 8:15 AM PDT

Udoka Azubuike's season ending injury has Kansas' 14-year reign atop the Big 12 in jeopardy.
  • The Kansas Jayhawks enter Big 12 tourney (March 11) as likely top seed in March Madness
  • The 2-seed Baylor Bears could earn a top seed if they win this tournament
  • See below for a betting preview and prediction of the Big 12 Tournament

The 2020 Big 12 Tournament kicks off March 11 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. By all indications, it would take a series of extremely unfortunate events for the Kansas Jayhawks — the current top-ranked team in the nation with the best 2020 National Championship odds — to not be a no. 1 seed (and perhaps, the top overall seed) in the NCAA Tournament.

But there is definite intrigue in the tournament, as there is an automatic berth on the line, and not much separating the rest of the top six seeds that get a bye into the semifinals.

2020 Big 12 Tournament Odds

Team (Seed) Odds
Kansas Jayhawks (1) -125
Baylor Bears (2) +200
Texas Tech Red Raiders (5) +600
West Virginia Mountaineers (6) +800
Oklahoma Sooners (3) +1200
Texas Longhorns (4) +2000
TCU Horned Frogs (7) +6600
Oklahoma State Cowboys (8) +10000
Iowa State Cyclones (9) +15000
Kansas State Wildcats (10) +15000

Odds taken March 8th

While the Baylor Bears are also fighting for a top seed, there are also some bubble-teams that would probably prefer the certainty of earning at at-large bid, rather than wait for selection Sunday. Let’s see if any are worth a wager, or if this is Kansas’ tourney to lose.

Big 12 Tournament Bracket

Jayhawks Prepping for Deep Tourney Run

At this point, Kansas has already done much of they heavy lifting to position themselves as the top team in the country, and the top seed at March Madness even if they were upset in the quarters.

A team that looked like it was going to take a backseat to the Baylor Bears in the conference after losing at home to Baylor on January 11, KU has not stopped winning since. They’ve reeled off 16 straight wins, while taking over the no. 1 ranking that pinballed across several teams earlier in the year.

The Jayhawks clinched their 15th regular season title in 16 years, powered by a small-big combo of guard Devon Dotson and center Uboka Azubuike. Azubuike averaged a double-double for the year (13.7 points, 10.4 rebounds) while swatting away 2.6 shots a game. Dotson had a standout season averaging 18.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per contest.

Their backcourt is further solidified with great contributors like Ochai Agbaji and Marcus Garrett.

Who Can Compete with Kansas?

The obvious choice here is fourth-ranked Baylor, the only team in the Big 12 to hang a loss on the Jayhawks. But they’ve been on their own journey of discovery since their 23-game win streak and no. 1 ranking in college hoops was broken by Kansas.

They actually enter the tournament having lost three of five, including losses to TCU and the regular-season finale to West Virginia to watch the Big 12 regular season title slip out of their hands.

Still, this is a team that has plenty to play for. A Big 12 tourney win, punctuated with a win over Kansas, would probably force the committee to give the Bears a no. 1 seed in the dance. It would also restore the swag the Bears possessed while racking up all those W’s.

They bring a stingy defense to the court, allowing the seventh-fewest points per game in the nation, and a trio of guards in Jared Butler (leading scorer at 16 ppg), MaCio Teague and Davion Mitchell that make the offense hum.

Teams with Something to Play For

After KU and Baylor, only tiebreakers separated the next four teams with identical 9-9 conference records. While Oklahoma and Texas are the higher seeds, they are bubble teams for the NCAA’s. It’s reflected in the odds, as fifth-seeded Texas Tech has vaulted into the third best betting position and no. 6 West Virginia into fourth.

Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers seemed destined for better success, after racing out to an 18-4 mark. But after struggling through February, March picked up with an upset Baylor. They look feisty enough to make some noise. They’ll need the production of frontcourt mates Oscar Tshiebwe and Derek Culver to make the championship game.

If the pieces fall the right way, Kansas could be in for a rematch with Texas Tech in the semifinal, their second matchup with the Red Raiders in three games and third of the season. Though Texas Tech narrowly lost the last game 66-62, they did expose what might be the Jayhawks’ weakness: three-point shooting. The Red Raiders held them to just 4-for-17 in the contest.

They’re led by a pair of standout youngsters, including Big 12 Freshman of the Year Jahmi’us Ramsey, who averaged 15 points per game, and fellow all-Big 12 Rookie team member Terrance Shannon Jr.

What’s the Best Bet?

While this will be a highly competitive tournament, expect the cream to rise, with Baylor and Kansas — two top five teams for much of the year — making it a third meeting this season.

Baylor has more to play for, with their shaky play challenging much of the good play they racked up in the regular season. Locking up the Big 12 tourney title should get them a top seed in their own region, and that should get them through the field – including a potential rematch with West Virginia in the semi-finals.

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