West Virginia vs Kansas Prediction College Basketball Picks 12/31/24

In this article, we will formulate a West Virginia vs Kansas Prediction for this college basketball game on Tuesday, December 31st, at the Allen Fieldhouse. To formulate this prediction, we will examine:

-The Mountaineers’ recent form and recent player performance 

-The Jayhawks’ recent form and recent player performance

-Recent Betting trends and streaks involving West Virginia

-Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Kansas

-Recent betting trends in games played between West Virginia and Kansas

-A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Today’s Game between the Mountaineers and Jayhawks. 

The home team has won the last three games played between these two teams. When these two teams faced off last January it was West Virginia that was able to secure the 91-85 victory. They were ten-point underdogs but still came out on top. 

Kansas Can’t Slip Up

Kansas has dreams of winning another Big 12 title and with teams like Arizona coming in, that job is going to be even harder. With that being said, against teams that aren’t really expected to compete for the title like West Virginia, this isn’t a game that they can slip up in. Kansas only has two losses to start the season, but at times they have looked a little of sync. After losing to Missouri three games ago, they have really turned it around, and they have looked good in each of the last two games. Two games ago against NC State, Kansas was 75-60 and in the last game against Brown, they picked up the 87-53. Kansas shot 50 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from behind the three-point line. Guard Zeke Mayo was a highly touted transfer, and he had a huge game putting up 25 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. 

Kansas on the season is averaging 79.2 points while their defense is giving up 66 points per game. The offense is ranked 95th in the league while the defense is ranked 57th in the league. The Jayhawks are averaging 18.8 assists per game which is 9th in the league. Hunter Dickinson still doesn’t play any defense, but he is averaging 15.5 points while shooting 54.6 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Can West Virginia Make a Statement? 

West Virginia comes into this game with a 10-2 record overall and it has been a solid start, but a win here would make quite the statement. The Mountaineers have won five games in a row and that included wins against Arizona and Georgetown. In the last game against Mercyhurst, West Virginia scored 67 points, but the defense had 46 points and that was enough for the 21-point victory. They allowed Mercyhurst to shoot only 28.3 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from behind the three-point line. West Virginia shot 48.1 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from behind the three-point line. Javon Small had a strong game putting up 19 points and three rebounds. 

West Virginia is averaging 77.5 points while the defense is giving up 63.8 points per game. The offense is ranked 139th in the league while the defense is ranked 29th in the league. Guard Javon Small is averaging 19.7 points while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Why West Virginia Will Cover Against Kansas

• West Virginia has won each of its last five games.
• Kansas has lost four of its last five games against Conference opponents.
• Kansas has lost the first half in three of its last four day games against the Big 12 Conference.

West Virginia vs Kansas Prediction

Give me West Virginia to find success in this game. West Virginia has some big wins this season and that includes a key win over Arizona. Kansas has still not found the perfect rotations, and this is going to be a game where their offense isn’t going to be all that good. West Virginia’s defense is giving up only 63.8 points per game and their defense is going to step up in a big way here. I don’t think the Mountaineers will win, but they will keep it within a basket or two. Back West Virginia to cover the spread here. 

Shane Mickle's Pick: West Virginia +12.5