Manhattan vs Kansas Odds, Pick | College Basketball Betting Guide

Kansas began the year ranked No. 1 in the Preseason AP Top 25 and was also a co-favorite to win the national championship. On Monday night, Kansas' national championship pursuit got off to a great start with a 99-56 victory over North Carolina Central. The Jayhawks will now look to sweep their two-game homestand as they welcome Manhattan to Allen Fieldhouse on Friday night.

Manhattan also began the year with a victory, beating Bryant as an 11.5-point underdog. It'll be a double-digit underdog once again, but Friday's task will be much more difficult.

Beginning this season with a victory at Bryant was a momentum builder for the Jaspers, who won that game on the defensive end. Manhattan held Bryant to 34.4% shooting and was +4 on the glass. That effort speaks volumes as Bryant scored 140 points in its next game — albeit against Fisher College.

In his first career game, guard Seydou Traore had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Weber State transfer forward Daniel Rouzan led the team with 16 points on 8-for-13 shooting in 20 minutes. Traore and Rouzan are two of nine newcomers that Manhattan brought in to reshape the roster.

They will look to improve a Manhattan offense that ranked 317th in adjusted offensive efficiency last season. Shaquil Bender and Briggs McClain could emerge as difference makers for the Jaspers this season. Bender averaged 13.6 points per game at Fullerton College and McClain averaged 14.4 points per game in 25 games last season at Hartford.

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Kansas looked the part of the top in the country with a comfortable over North Carolina Central. Center Hunter Dickinson, a Michigan transfer,  was a part of a center-heavy preseason AP All-American Team. He scored 21 points on 8-for-9 shooting from the field and went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in his Jayhawks debut. Dickinson's presence gives the Jayhawks the big man they didn't have on the offensive end last season.

Guard Nicolas Timberlake was also highly coveted in the transfer portal. He showed why on Monday night as he scored 13 points and knocked down three 3-pointers in four attempts. He could get many open looks playing with Dickinson this season.

Guards Kevin McCullar Jr. and DaJuan Harris Jr headline Kansas' returners. McCullar Jr. impacts the game on both ends and led the team with 22 points on Monday. He also chipped in six rebounds and five assists.

Harris Jr. didn't attempt a field goal in 25 minutes, but he doesn't need to score to impact the game. Last season, he was ninth in Division I with 6.2 assists per game and 24th with 2.2 steals per game. He had 10 assists and a steal against North Carolina Central.

Rebounding was likely a point of emphasis for head coach Bill Self this offseason as Kansas ranked outside the top 150 in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage last year. Dickinson should help on the glass after averaging over eight per game in each of the past two seasons at Michigan.

With Monday's victory over North Carolina Central, Kansas has won its past 16 home games over non-conference opponents by an average of 25.1 points per game.

In this game, Dickinson may be the difference. At 7-foot-2, Dickinson will have several inches on whoever the Jaspers throw at him. Dickinson missed just one shot on Monday and it wouldn't be a surprise if he had similar success tonight, particularly around the rim.

Expect Dickinson to lead another balanced scoring effort as the Jayhawks cruise to another comfortable home victory.

Pick: Kansas -31.5

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