Kansas (22-10) vs Samford (29-5)
Game Info: Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 9:55 pm (Delta Center)
Betting Odds: Kansas Jayhawks -7.5 -- Over/Under: 152 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Samford Bulldogs and the Kansas Jayhawks meet Thursday in NCAA Tournament First Round college basketball action from Delta Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game. Here’s a Samford vs Kansas prediction. We will examine:
• The Samford recent form and player performance
• The Kansas recent form and player performance
• Recent betting trends and streaks involving Samford
• Recent betting trends and streaks involving Kansas
• Recent betting trends in games played between Samford and Kansas
• A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Samford vs Kansas game
Samford Bulldogs Betting Preview
The Bulldogs lost their first two games of the year (versus Purdue and VCU), then promptly hit a win streak that lasted until January 24. Since then Samford has only lost two games. The Bulldogs are sitting on a four-game win streak versus the Citadel, Mercer, Furman and East Tennessee State.
In the conference tournament matchup versus East Tennessee State, the Bulldogs held a slim two-point lead at the break. Samford hit a 36-31 run the rest of the way and ended up winning 76-69. Leading the way was Achor Achor with 25 points and nine rebounds alongside four blocks.
Kansas Jayhawks Betting Preview
Over on the Kansas side, they were able to avoid consecutive losses over their first 27 games of the season (a 21-6 run). Since then however, the Jayhawks are just 1-4. The losses during that time have come versus BYU, Baylor, Houston and Cincinnati with a lone win over Kansas State.
Matched up against Cincinnati in their first game of the conference tourney last Wednesday, the Jayhawks were down 38-25 by the break. Kansas was outscored 34-27 the rest of the way in a 72-52 loss. KJ Adams was the only double-digit scorer on 22 points and four rebounds.
Kansas Jayhawks Team Facts
- Kansas has won each of its last eight games against non-Conference opponents.
- Ten of Kansas' last 11 night games at a neutral venue have produced a total of 146 or fewer points.
- Kansas has won the first half in each of its last eight Thursday games against non-Conference opponents.
Samford Bulldogs Team Facts
- Samford has won each of its last 11 games against non-Conference opponents.
- Five of Samford's last six night games at a neutral venue have produced a total of 147 or fewer points.
- Samford has won the first half in each of its last 12 games against non-Conference opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- Kansas ranks 2nd among Division 1 teams for assists per game this season (19.0).
- Kansas ranks 10th among Division 1 teams for field goal percentage this season (49.4%).
- Samford is one of three teams to ranks in the top-10 for both points and assists per game this season.
- Samford ranks 4th among Division 1 teams for true shooting percentage this season (60.9%).
Samford vs Kansas Betting Preview
I’ll lean toward Samford here. The Bulldogs are playing well these days and coming off a nice win over ETSU in their last outing. Samford did have some way spots though, including 27.8 percent from 3-point range (5-of-18), 67.6 percent from the line (25-of-37), a 41-32 rebounding deficit and 14 turnovers. Still, that makes 69 or more points in 14 straight games, a 12-2 run.
As for Kansas, they shot a miserable 33.9 percent from the field and 15 percent (3-of-20) from outside in the loss to Cincinnati along with a 49-38 rebounding deficit. The Jayhawks have scored just 98 combined points over their last two games, but to be fair they’ve played a pair of tough teams in that time. Kansas should regain some semblance of form in this matchup but I think Samford is good enough to get in there.
Andrew’s Pick Samford Bulldogs +7.5
AUTHOR: Andrew Jett
Follow Andrew Jett on Twitter @PickDawgzAndrew