#5 UConn vs. #21 Kansas: Game Preview and Analysis

Dan Hurley and UConn are one of the nation's best teams this season - Texas UConn Picks

Monster slate Tuesday is here again and the college basketball world delivers another night loaded with high level matchups. No. 5 UConn and No. 21 Kansas headline the board in a showdown that could shape the early season landscape. Dive in and see why this game demands every bit of your attention tonight too.

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#5 UConn vs. #21 Kansas Odds

Bill Self has nearly an 80% winning rate as the head coach of Kansas - Kansas Duke Picks

Will Bill Self and his boys be ready for the Huskies?

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Spread

UConn: -1.5 (-110)

Kansas: +1.5 (-110)

Total

Over: 143 (-110)

Under: 143 (-110)

Moneyline

UConn: -125

Kansas: +105

#5 UConn vs. #21 Kansas Best Bet

Welcome back to monster slate Tuesdays from the college basketball circuit. We are being absolutely spoiled this evening and fellow college basketball junkie Nate Hornung and I will be covering all of the big matchups on deck, so keep those eyes peeled on the website.

This evening No. 5 UConn heads to Lawrence to take on No. 21 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, for what could be the best game of the night. Both teams are riding winning streaks and both are coming off big wins. The Huskies just took down Illinois 74 to 61 at Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks knocked off Tennessee 81 to 76 in Las Vegas.

Line Movement

There has been a bit of movement on this matchup over the last 24 hours. The spread opened at 1.5 in favor of the Huskies, but has climbed to 2.5, where I pounced on the Jayhawks. The total has gone up three points from the 140.5 opener. I lean toward the under, but I lean even more toward the home dog in this spot.

Battle Tested Jayhawks

With the season only a month in, I am a sucker for a team that has faced early tests and pushed through a gauntlet of tough opponents. Haslametrics has Kansas owning the 40th toughest schedule so far. On the other side, UConn has dealt with the 129th toughest.

I am also a sucker for a team that consistently plays its best ball at home. Bill Self always has his boys ready in their own gym. Plus, this will be the first true road game of the season for the Huskies. On the year, they have only played away from home twice this season. On top of that, this will be the toughest opponent the Jayhawks have hosted up to this point, which will only add to the madness inside Allen Fieldhouse.

One thing I think the Jayhawks will take full advantage of is getting to the line. The Huskies have struggled with sending opponents to the stripe, currently ranked 271st in free throw rate defense. Kansas sits inside the top 160 in free throw rate offense and is top 60 in free throw percentage. I think foul shots will be crucial in this matchup. Another area Kansas must step up in is forcing turnovers, currently fourth worst in turnover rate defense. They need to attack the mistakes the Huskies make.

With all that in mind, I think I have to back the Jayhawks at home as underdogs. If you are feeling bold, take them to win at plus money. However, I always take points when I can get them in college basketball. If I can get some cushion, I will take the cushion. This environment will be electric and Kansas will feed off every bit of it. If the Jayhawks set the tone early, they can control the pace and close this one out.