Baylor vs Kansas Odds, Pick: How to Bet Game of Day

Two of the premier programs in the Big 12 will take the floor in Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday as the Baylor Bears take on the Kansas Jayhawks.

This will be arguably the game of the weekend, as Scott Drew and Bill Self go head-to-head.

Kansas finds itself a game back from first place in the Big 12 and a half-game back from Baylor entering this contest.

Baylor's season has gone through some ups and downs. The Bears are 17-5, but over the course of the season, the Bears have constantly found themselves in the midst of multiple streaks. They opened the year with nine wins, then lost back-to-back games, then won five straight games and then dropped three in a row.

Currently, the Bears are on fire again, winning their last three contests over UCF, Iowa State and Texas Tech.

Kansas has had four days to prep for this game since its heartbreaking overtime loss to its rival — Kansas State — on Monday. Kansas has been unstoppable at home on the year, with a flawless 12-0 record in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas is 7-2 vs. top-50 opponents this season, and it hasn't lost two straight games yet this year.

Baylor has a dominant offense. This year's team has many of the same strengths that the best Drew teams have had over the last five years: shooting, dynamic ball-handlers and bigs that can generate second chances.

The biggest strength this year for Baylor is 3-point shooting. It makes 41% of its 3s, which is the top number in the entire country.

The Bears rebound 37% of their misses, which ranks 19th nationally in offensive rebounding rate. They get to the line a ton as well, and they shoot 73% as a group when they get there.

Defensively is where they're vulnerable. The Bears rank 75th nationally in defensive efficiency. Some of their worst performances have come on the road, like when they gave up 88 points to Michigan State in Little Caesars Arena.

Baylor is just 2-3 in away or neutral games this season.

Kansas is a much more balanced squad than Baylor is. The Jayhawks rank in the top 25 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and they can beat you in a variety of ways.

They shoot the ball well from everywhere, making 37% of their shots from 3-point range and 57% of their shots from inside the line.

Hunter Dickinson is a dominant offensive force, and Kevin McCullar Jr. is one of the best wing scorers in the country.

Depth has been a serious concern for the Jayhawks, but the emergence of Johnny Furphy has changed everything. He's scored in double figures in six of his last seven games.

If KU can get enough stops itself, it should find success against the Baylor defense and feel good about its chances of covering here.

Kansas has simply been too good at home this year, and the Baylor defense doesn't always travel.

Add in that Kansas is in a bounce back spot, and the Jayhawks are the play here.

Pick: Kansas -6.5