Kansas vs. Colorado Odds, Picks, Prediction: Expect Jayhawks to Roll in Big 12 (Tuesday, Dec. 21)

Kansas vs. Colorado Odds

Tuesday, Dec. 21

9 p.m. ET

ESPN2

Kansas Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
-9.5 -110	144 -110o / -110u	N/A

Colorado Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
+9.5 -110	144 -110o / -110u	N/A

Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute college basketball odds here.

Kansas is just a little over a week removed from facing an old Big 12 rival in Missouri. The Jayhawks dominated in a 102-65 victory and covered as a 23.5-point favorite. However, Kansas got all it could handle from Stephen F. Austin in a 80-72 victory.

Next, the Jayhawks will head to Boulder to battle another former Big 12 foe in Colorado.

The Buffaloes will enter on a three-game winning streak after consecutive losses to UCLA and Tennessee. Last time out, the Buffaloes beat Cal State Bakersfield, 60-46, and improved to 7-1 at home.

Kansas holds a 116-33 lead over Colorado in the all-time series. The programs last met in 2019, which ended in a 72-58 Kansas win.

Can the Jayhawks win by double digits again?

Kansas Jayhawks

In the win over Stephen F. Austin, Kansas was carried by guards Christian Braun and Ochai Agbaji — like it has been all season. Braun had 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field to go along with six rebounds and three assists. Agbaji had 18 points and five rebounds.

For the year, Agbaji is averaging 22.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 48.4% from deep. He has played himself into the conversation for National Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, Braun is averaging 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

Arizona State transfer Remy Martin is averaging 10.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game on 38.7% shooting from beyond the arc.

Center David McCormack is averaging 8.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, however, Kansas will need a more composed performance from him on Tuesday night.

Kansas has a couple of players battling non-COVID illness in DaJuan Harris Jr. and KJ Adams Jr.

Kansas has been an efficient offensive team. The Jayhawks are eighth nationally in scoring offense (85.8 PPG), fifth in offensive rating and third adjusted offensive efficiency and field goal percentage.

Defensively, Kansas is 38th in adjusted defensive efficiency and 121st in defensive rating. However, Kansas allowed Stephen F. Austin to shoot 53% from the floor, the highest it has allowed this season.

The Jayhawks should fare better defensively against Colorado.

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Colorado Buffaloes

Colorado will enter at 9-3, but it has been far from impressive this season.

Colorado is 93rd in adjusted offensive efficiency and 168th in offensive rating. Defensively, it ranks 72nd in adjusted defensive efficiency and 141st in defensive rating. Colorado averages just 71 points per game, which is 204th nationally. It is also 287th in adjusted tempo, which plays a factor.

The Buffaloes are led by forwards Jabari Walker and Evan Battey. Walker averages 13.3 points and 8.1 rebounds, while Battey averages 12.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Battey can also stretch the floor, as he has knocked down 8-of-15 attempts from beyond the arc, a 53.3% clip.

Guard Keeshawn Barthelemy is more of a volume shooter with 40 3-point attempts on the year. Barthelemy is hitting 35% of them and averaging 11.1 points per game on the year.

The Buffaloes may be without the services of Walker against the Jayhawks. The sophomore took a shot to the head while fighting for a rebound against Cal State Bakersfield just four minutes into the game.

Walker's status is unclear at this time, but it definitely bears watching, as he is Colorado's best and most important player.

Kansas vs. Colorado Betting Pick

Colorado has scored more than 65 points just once in its seven games and now, it may be without its best player. While this isn't one of the best defensive teams that Bill Self has had, Kansas should be able to limit Colorado offensively.

However, ultimately Kansas' offense will be the defense.

Colorado is undersized on the perimeter as Barthelemy, Eli Parquet and KJ Simpson are all between 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-3. Agbaji and Braun will be able to shoot over them and get their shots off.

Additionally when they drive inside, Colorado offers little rim protection. Colorado does not have a player averaging over a block per game and as a team, it ranks 177th in blocks at 3.3 per game.

Kansas should go into its Christmas break with a decisive victory. I like the Jayhawks by double digits.

Pick: Kansas -9.5 (Play to 11.5)