TCU vs Kansas
The Kansas Jayhawks are in crisis and desperately need a win to break out of their slump. After a 75-68 defeat at Oklahoma this past Saturday, the Jayhawks are riding a three-game losing streak, and they’ve fallen to the No. 15 in the AP Top 25 Poll.
As well as the Jayhawks, the TCU Horned Frogs are on a three-game losing streak. Their previous loss also came at the Oklahoma Sooners, 82-46, as the Frogs haven’t played over the last two weeks due to COVID-19 issues.
TCU will meet Kansas for the second time this season. Back on January 5, the Jayhawks dismantled the Horned Frogs 93-64 as 6.5-point road favorites, tallying their seventh straight victory over TCU. Kansas is 5-2 ATS in that seven-game span against the Frogs.
The Jayhawks tortured the Frogs for all 40 minutes in Fort Worth and we should see more of the same at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. They out rebounded TCU (41-20) while posting 14 offensive rebounds, and junior forward David McCormack led the way with 20 points and eight rebounds.
The usual pic.twitter.com/IhBvcsfcwR
— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) January 23, 2021
TCU failed to score more than 67 points in five straight outings. The Horned Frogs rank 99th in the country in offensive efficiency, scoring 105.6 points per 100 possessions, so they’ll struggle mightily against Kansas’ top-20 defense that surrenders 91.1 points per 100 possessions.
The Jayhawks have a great opportunity to stop their slide, so don’t hesitate to take them to cover.
College basketball pick – Kansas by 14.
Gonzaga vs San Diego
The Gonzaga Bulldogs improved to 15-0 on the season and 6-0 in the West Coast Conference play with a 95-49 victory to the Pacific Tigers last Saturday. After three straight ATS losses, the Zags covered as 26-point home favorites, so they are 7-7-1 ATS this term.
Gonzaga played monstrous defense, holding the Tigers to 27.9% shooting from the field and 12.5% from beyond the arc. Drew Timme led the offense with 22 points, while Jalen Suggs finished the game with nine points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.
🔟 straight weeks atop the college basketball world 😎 https://t.co/faxKfV99N3
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) January 25, 2021
The Zags remain the best team in the AP Top 25 Poll, though they are second in the NCAA NET Rankings. They score 124.2 points per 100 possessions (2nd in the country) and surrender 90.1 in a return (13th) while playing at the seventh-fastest pace of 75.0 possessions per 40 minutes.
On the other side, the San Diego Toreros (2-6, 1-3 Conf.) just snapped a four-game skid with a 78-70 victory at the Portland Pilots. They are No. 258 in the NCAA NET Rankings, scoring 98.1 points per 100 possessions (244th) and allowing 100.9 to their opponents (155th).
The Toreros will have a mountain to climb in this one, and we wouldn’t be surprised if they fail to surpass a 60-point mark. San Diego is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games against Gonzaga and 3-8 ATS in its previous 11 contests played in January.
College basketball pick – Gonzaga by 28.
Houston vs Tulane
The #6 Houston Cougars meet the Tulane Green Wave for the second time this month, and 19 days ago, the Cougars easily outlasted the Green Wave at home, 71-50. They shut down Tulane, allowing them to make only 28.8% of their field goals while dominating the glass (48-26) and shooting 41.7% from beyond the 3-point line.
🚨 Network Update 🚨
Thursday’s 8 pm game at Tulane will now air on @espn #ForTheCity x #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/zUzP50cD53
— Houston Men’s Hoops 🏀 🐾 (@UHCougarMBK) January 27, 2021
Covering a massive spread on the road is always a difficult task, but the Cougars should dominate the Green Wave once again. Houston is one of the best defensive teams in the country and allows only 87.2 points per 100 possessions (3rd) on 36.9% shooting from the field (also 3rd) and 28.7% from beyond the arc (2nd).
On the other side, Tulane is scoring a paltry 95.9 points per 100 possessions (282nd) while making 37.3% of their field goals (339th) and 30.5% of their 3-pointers (282nd). The Green Wave surrender just 62.2 points per game (24th) on 39.9% shooting (45th), but their offense will struggle against the Cougars, so we’re backing the visitors to cover.
Houston tops the American Athletic Conference with an 8-1 record, riding a six-game winning streak. Each of their last four wins came by 17 or more points, and the Cougars are 5-1 ATS in their last six showings.
Houston is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games against Tulane and 5-1 ATS in its previous six road encounters with the Green Wave. Tulane is 6-4 on the season and 1-4 in the conference play, dropping three of its last four games overall. The Green Wave are No. 197 in the NCAA NET Rankings.
College basketball pick – Houston by 17.
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