Expect Long night for Johnnies at UBS Arena
The Kansas Jayhawks face their first true road test of the season as they head to the new UBS Arena on Friday to face the St. John’s Red Storm in the Big East-Big 12 Challenge.
Kansas is seventh in the country in points scored on a per possession basis while committing a turnover on 14 percent of its possessions, which is 19th in the country.
The Red Storm are forcing a turnover on 24 percent of opponents possessions, which ranks 24th in America and have forced at least 20 turnovers in three straight games, but those games were against Fairleigh Dickinson, St. Francis Brooklyn and a home overtime game against NJIT.
Opponents are getting an offensive rebound on 26.1 percent of their missed shots against St. John’s, which is 172nd nationally with opponents making 36 percent of their 3-pointers, which ranks 264th among DI teams.
With Kansas forcing isolation, allowing an assist on 39.9 percent of made shots, which is 23rd in the country, they will shut down a St. John’s offense that is very reliant on ball movement to be successful on Friday. THE PLAY: Kansas -6.5 Greg Peterson handicaps college basketball for VSiN.com, The Sports Betting Network.
It’s a huge weekend of college football ahead, with conference championship games galore.
Our handicappers Adam Burke, Tim Murray and Wes Reynolds are here to give you their best bets for the weekend’s card.
Overall record: 72-60-4 ATS
Friday
Pac-12 Championship game: No. 17 Utah Utes (-2.5, 58) vs. No. 10 Oregon Ducks, 8 p.m.
Reynolds: These two clubs just played two weeks ago with Utah winning 38-7 as 3-point home favorites over then-No. 3 Oregon. The Utes rolled to a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Utah RB Tavion Thomas and QB Cam Rising combined for three firsthalf TD runs and Britain Covey returned a punt for another TD near the end of the first half.
After Charlie Brewer transferred out of the program, the Texas transfer Rising took over as Utes starting quarterback and Utah has since won eight of nine games. Rising has gone 172 of 274 passing (17 TDs, 3 INTs) for 2,109 yards, adding 54 carries for 346 rushing yards (6.4 yards per carry) and five rushing touchdowns.
In that first meeting, the normally potent Oregon rushing attack (18th, 214 YPG) was held to just 63 yards on 23 carries and Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown was sacked three times.
The Nov. 20 result is fresh on the Ducks’ mind and they should like the faster track indoors at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Pick: Oregon +3
Saturday
AAC Championship Game: No. 16 Houston Cougars vs. No. 3 Cincinnati Bearcats (-10.5, 53.5), 4 p.m.
Burke: All of the pressure is on Cincinnati in this game. A win not only means a conference championship, but likely the first-ever Group of Five College Football Playoff berth. Houston isn’t exactly playing free and easy, but there aren’t nearly as many expectations for the Cougars.
While the Bearcats did struggle a little bit throughout the season, this is still one of the nation’s best in yards per play differential at +2.52. Only Georgia grades higher and the Bulldogs have had an historic season.
This should be another suffocating defensive performance for Cincinnati and the offense will do enough to cover the number. Pick: Cincinnati -10.5 Murray: The College Football Playoff is within reach for Cincinnati.
South Point Sportsbook Director Chris Andrews said on “The Night Cap” this week that his numbers make Cincinnati around a 14-point favorite against Houston. DraftKings Sportsbook on Thursday morning reported that 73 percent of the handle was on Houston +10.5. Is there a “trendy dog” situation brewing? ESPN’s Chris Fallica pointed out that in the two meetings between Dana Holgorsen and Luke Fickell, Cincinnati won and covered both times.
The Cougars do have a strong defense, but I don’t see Houston having much success offensively on Saturday afternoon at Nippert Stadium.
Pick: Cincinnati -10.5 and Houston Team Total under (20.5 or better)