#6 Kansas Jayhawks at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Saturday, January 12, 2013, 4:00 pm Eastern, TV: Big 12 Network, YES, Altitude
United Spirit Arena – Lubbock, Texas
Opening Line: Kansas -19
Current Line: Kansas -18
Opening Total: 142
Current Total: 145
Opening Money Line: Kansas -4000 / Texas Tech +2000
Current Money Line: Kansas -4000 / Texas Tech +2000
The #6 Kansas Jayhawks are 13-1 season. The Jayhawks travel to the 8-5 Texas Tech Red Raiders in Big 12 action Saturday. Kansas leads the overall series 22-4 against Texas Tech including 8-4 in Lubbock. Kansas has won 5 straight games against Texas Tech. The Jayhawks crushed the Red Raiders by 35 and 33 points in the two meetings last year.
Kansas is coached by Bill Self. The Jayhawks won their conference opener Wednesday night at home against Iowa St 97-89 in overtime. It was the 22nd straight conference opening win for the Jayhawks. The only loss for the Jayhawks this season came against Michigan St in Atlanta early in the season. Kansas has won 12 straight games since then. The Jayhawks have key wins over Washington St, Saint Louis, and Oregon St all in Kansas City, along with a road win at Ohio St, and home wins over Colorado, Richmond and Temple 69-62 Sunday in the last game for Kansas. The Jayhawks are 6-7 ATS and the total is 7-3 this season.
Kansas is outscoring teams 79-61 this season. The Jayhawks are #21 in scoring. Kansas is #10 in field goal percentage at 49.9% and #32 in three point shooting at 38% from beyond the arc. The Jayhawks are shooting 74.3% from the free throw line. Kansas averages 39.8 rebounds per game, and gives up 29.9 per game. The Jayhawks are #30 in rebounding nationally. Kansas opponents are shooting 34.9% from the field and 31.2% from 3 point range. Kansas is #2 in opponent’s field goal percentage. The Jayhawks average 17 assists, 7 steals, 8 blocks and 13 turnovers a game.
Guard Ben McLemore averages 16.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Center Jeff Withey averages 13.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.1 blocks per game. Guard Travis Releford averages 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Guard Elijah Johnson averages 10.1 points, 3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Kevin Young averages 7.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Perry Ellis, Naadir Tharpe, Andrew White III and Jamari Taylor make up the rest of the rotation. Forward Justin Wesley is questionable with a finger injury.
Texas Tech is 1-1 in conference under interim coach Chris Walker. Walker became the head coach when Billy Gillespie had to step down for health reasons just before the season started. The Red Raiders have home losses to Arizona McNeese St, Alabama, Arizona St and Baylor Tuesday night 82-48. Texas Tech has only played one road game this season, a win over TCU to open Big 12 play. The other Tech wins are all over inferior teams. Texas Tech is 3-3 ATS and the total is 0-3 this season.
Texas Tech is outscoring teams 73-70 this season. The Red Raiders are shooting 44.4% from the field and 27.1% from 3 point range. Tech is #335 out of 347 teams in three point shooting. The Red Raiders make 69.1% of their free throws. Texas Tech averages 36.7 rebounds per game, and give up 30 rebounds per game. Rex Raider opponents are shooting 44.6% from the field and 37% from 3 point range. Texas Tech averages 12 assists, 9 steals, 4 blocks, and 15 turnovers.
Forward Jaye Crockett averages 14.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. Guard Josh Gray averages 10 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.2 steals. Forward Dejan Kravic averages 9.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game. Forward Jordan Tolbert averages 8.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Dustin Hannahs and Trency Jackson average 6.6 points per game. Daylen Robinson, Jamal Williams, Jr., Todrick Gotcher and Ty Nurse also get significant minutes in the rotation. Forward Aaron Ross is out for the season with a knee injury.
Kansas is 4-0 ATS in road games after 3 or more straight home games, and in Saturday games, 5-2-1 in road games, and against teams with winning home records, 2-5 in Big 12 games, and 1-5 after scoring 90 points or more. The Jayhawks are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 against Texas Tech, and were favored in each one of those contests.
Texas Tech is 4-9 ATS overall, 5-12 at home, including 3-7 against teams with winning road records, 2-5 against teams with winning records and after scoring 50 points or less, 3-8 after a double digit home loss, 1-4 after a straight up loss, after failing to cover, and in Big 12 games, and 1-5 after a straight up loss of 20 points or more. The home team is 12-4 ATS in the last 16 in this series.
Texas Tech is not a good team and will compete with TCU to avoid being last in the Big 12. Kansas is clearly the class of the Big 12. Look, if Kansas want to they can crush this team much like Baylor did this week. The Jayhawks might be in for a little bit of letdown after the tough, emotional win over Iowa St Wednesday night, but i doubt it. I like the Jayhawks to win and cover on the road.
Our expert college basketball picks are available now. We have half season packages available now.
