Memphis vs Kansas – Jimmy V Classic College Basketball Picks: The No. 4(AP) ranked Kansas Jayhawks (7-0) will be challenged by No. 14 Memphis (7-0) when the two college basketball teams collide in the Jimmy V Mens Basketball Classic at New York's Madison Square Garden Tuesday (7 PM ET, ESPN). Kansas is listed as 11-chalk favorites versus the Tigers at most offshore sportsbooks, with a posted 149 1/2 total.
Early betting trends show 79 percent of college hoops gamblers taking Memphis and the points, while 77 percent are risking the Tigers to win straight up. Memphis backers are getting +550 moneyline odds at most offshore sportsbooks. A SU wager on the favored Jayhawks is pricy at -750 at most offshore books.
Tuesday's game is the only time Memphis has been lined as a double-digit underdog. On Nov. 21, the Tigers were +9 1/2-chalk underdogs on the road at LSU and won SU, and of course covered the chalk for backers. Of their five games lined by oddsmakers, Memphis is currently 2-3 ATS while the UNDER cashed on the total in 3-of-5.
As double-digit favorites, Kansas is an impressive 3-1 ATS and 4-1 overall. The Jayhawks only failure ATS came against UCLA as 17 1/2-chalk favorites on Thursday (Dec. 2). The OVER has cashed for backers in 3-of-5 games with a posted total.
Memphis is 7-0 on the season following its 77-61 win against Western Kentucky last Saturday (Dec. 4). The Tigers are scoring 85.3 points and giving up 65.7 for a +19.6 scoring average and force 18.4 turnovers per game. Memphis averages 11 steals per game and 5.9 blocked shots. Junior forward Wesley Witherspoon leads the Tigers in scoring with 13.7 points per game and rebounding at 5.0 boards per game.
The Jayhawks have a 7-0 record for the second straight season following its 77-76 win against UCLA in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series contest on Dec. 2. KU averages 89.9 points and gives up 59.4 for a +30.4 scoring margin. The Jayhawks lead the Big 12 with 21.1 assists per game, a 56.9 field goal percentage and averages 6.3 blocked shots per contest. Junior forward Marcus Morris leads the team with an 18.6 scoring average and is tied for the team high with 64.5 shooting percentage.
College Basketball Picks : I can't help but to call for a Memphis cover ATS as a double-digit (+11) dog.
