Oklahoma vs Kansas | Preview, Predictions, Odds

MONDAY, FEBRUARUY 22, 2010 – FREE NCAA PICK

Oklahoma Sooners (13-13) vs. #1 Kansas Jayhawks (26-1)

The No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks will host the Oklahoma Sooners in a Big 12 battle on Monday night at the Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.

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The Jayhawks thumped the Sooners 87-78 in their previous meeting back on Feb 23, 2009. Oklahoma is 7-8 all-time against No. 1 teams with three of those victories coming against Kansas, most recently in the 2002 Big 12 tournament. The Jayhawks, though, have won nine in a row over the Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse. Oklahoma, which has not won in Lawrence since Feb. 17, 1993, has dropped 67 of 83 all-time matchups there.

The Sooners are on a four game losing skid with their latest defeat coming by way of Kansas State, 83-68 on Saturday. Tommy Mason-Griffin scored 16 points and handed out five assists, while fellow freshman Andrew Fitzgerald matched his career-high with 14 points in the win. The Sooners were without leading scorer Willie Warren for the fourth time in eight games, first because of a sprained ankle and then mononucleosis. Warren will be out for the remainder of the season. That’s a big blow to Oklahoma whose strength in the backcourt, comes from Warren and Tommy Mason-Griffin. The Sooners is generating 73.3 ppg, but is allowing 72.9 ppg to opponents. A porous defense is just one of the many areas of concern for the Sooners this season.

In the meantime, the No. 1 Jayhawks have12 straight victories to move to 26-1 overall and a perfect 12-0 in the Big 12. They crushed Colorado on Saturday, 94-74 and are a perfect 17-0 at home this season. Standout freshman Xavier Henry had a game-high 24 points while Cole Aldrich and Tyshawn Taylor netted 17 points apiece in the win. Aldrich also pulled down 10 rebounds and had five blocked shots. The Jayhawks are led by Sherron Collins, a standout guard who is averaging 15.0 points and 4.3 assists per game. As for Aldrich the club’s star center, he provides 11.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest. Kansas is generating a league fifth best 82.7 ppg, while allowing 62.9 ppg on 36.7 percent shooting from the field to its opponents. The biggest factor in the Jayhawks success is their ability to outrebound their opponents by 7.6 per game.

The odds makers have Kansas –22 -point favorites in this one.

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Kansas will be too much for the Sooners, especially at home. Look for the Jayhawks to win this one by double digits.