A critical Big 12 clash is on the docket tonight as No. 7 Kansas squares off against No. 6 Baylor in Waco, Texas. The two schools, which sit second and third in the conference standings, are scheduled to tip off at 7:00pm ET at the Ferrell Center; the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2. NCAA Basketball Point Spreads have the Bears listed as a -1.5 against the spread home favorite and the Over/Under set at 143 points.
Kansas, which has won or earned a share of the last seven Big 12 regular season titles, finds its run of conference dominance in jeopardy after losing two of its last three games. The Jayhawks are still an impressive 18-5 overall and 8-2 in league play, but a heart breaking loss to its hated rival Missouri on Saturday night knocked them out of the top spot in the Big 12.
Kansas shot 53.6 percent over the weekend and it out-rebounded the Tigers 28 to 23, but it could not control Mizzou’s Marcus Denmon down the stretch. Denmon scored nine of Missouri’s 11 unanswered points in the game’s final minutes, helping neutralize a 25 point, 13 rebound effort from Thomas Robinson and propel the Tigers on to a 74-71 victory.
Saturday’s loss ups the ante tonight for both Kansas and Baylor, but the Jayhawks still probably hold an edge in the confidence department. Kansas, which has won its last 10 against the Bears by an average of 15.2 points per game, has never lost to Baylor while under the direction of Bill Self. However, momentum sides with the Bears, who have won four straight since dropping back-to-back games against Kansas and Missouri.
Baylor’s latest victory came in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Saturday as it dropped the Cowboys 64-60 to improve to 21-2 overall and 8-2 in the Big 12. Quincy Acy and Perry Jones, who both recorded double-doubles, combined for 27 points and 23 rebounds in dispatching the Pokes.
The two big men were not as dominant in the Bears first meeting with Kansas, though. They scored 32 points, but got worked by Robinson and Jayhawks center Jeff Withey, who combined for 37 points and 24 rebounds.
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Kansas vs Baylor 2012 NCAA Basketball Point Spreads: Provided by SBG Global
Kansas Jayhawks +1.5 (-110), Over 143 (-110), +105 (Moneyline)
Baylor Bears -1.5 (-110), Under 143 (-110), -125 (Moneyline)
