Kansas Jayhawks vs Missouri Tigers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/8/24
The Jayhawks and Tigers are set to face off at 1:00 ET on ESPN2. The Tigers will host the game at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, MO. Kansas is favored by -6.5 in this non-conference contest against Missouri. The game’s over/under currently sits at 154.5 points.
KANSAS JAYHAWKS VS MISSOURI TIGERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Missouri Tigers +6.5
This game will be played at Mizzou Arena at 1:00 ET on Sunday, December 8th.
WHY BET THE MISSOURI TIGERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-72 in favor of the Tigers.
- Not only will Missouri pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +6.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 154.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Do the Jayhawks Have What it Takes to Win as Road Favorites?
Kansas fell to 7-1 on the season after a 76-63 loss to Creighton on Wednesday. The Jayhawks, who were -4 favorites going into the game, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.
After trailing 41-31 at halftime, Kansas couldn’t close the gap in the second half, scoring 32 points while allowing 35. The game’s total points of 139 fell short of the 153.5 O/U line.
Kansas struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 35.7% from the field and 36.2% on two-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.4%, and they hit 34.8% from three-point range, making 8 of 23 attempts.
Pop Isaacs was a standout, scoring 27 points on 10 of 15 shooting, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc. He also added 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Ryan Kalkbrenner contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Steven Ashworth added 17 points and 8 boards.
Despite Kansas’ defensive efforts, they allowed 76 points on 47% shooting from the field. The opposing team hit 13 of their 24 two-point attempts, good for 54%.
From beyond the arc, Kansas gave up 12 threes on 29 attempts, a 41% success rate. They also sent the other team to the line 17 times, where they converted 14 free throws, shooting 82%. Kansas limited them to 6 offensive rebounds.
Taking a Look at the Tigers Chances at Home
Missouri improved to 7-1 on the season with a 98-93 win over California on Tuesday. The Tigers were -10 favorites at home but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points soared past the O/U line of 150, finishing at 191.
After trailing 51-35 at halftime, Missouri stormed back by scoring 63 points in the 2nd half while holding Cal to 42 points.
Missouri’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 98 points with a field goal percentage of 66.7% (36/54). Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 70.4%, thanks in large part to their 73.3% shooting on two-point attempts (33/45).
Anthony Robinson II led the way with 29 points and 6 assists, shooting 72.7% from the field. Andrej Stojakovic added 26 points, hitting 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, while Mark Mitchell contributed 21 points and 5 rebounds.
Despite Missouri’s defensive struggles, they still managed to put up 93 points offensively. The Tigers shot 66% from the field, hitting 36 of their 54 attempts. They were particularly effective inside, making 73% of their two-point shots, going 33/45.
From beyond the arc, Missouri shot 33%, connecting on 3 of their 9 three-point attempts. They also got to the free-throw line 38 times, converting 25 of those for 65%. On the offensive glass, they allowed just 5 offensive rebounds.