College Basketball Betting Guide | NC Central vs Kansas Odds, Pick

Bill Self and Kansas have been the subject of many headlines this offseason. As the season tips off on Monday, Self will surely hope the headlines are all about his team's play on the court. And given his health scare this past March, he's likely relieved just to be back on the sideline as KU's leader.

Below we have NC Central vs Kansas odds and a prediction, including an NCAAB betting guide for Monday.

NC Central coach LeVelle Moton is entering his 15th year as the head man for the Eagles. Moton's longevity is remarkable — regardless of the program — in today's college basketball landscape.

A coach like Moton is expected to lead in many ways, including in times of tragedy. Shockingly, the Eagles lost guard Devin Butts to an unexpected tragic death in May.

Moton, in his own words, is still dealing with the emotion of the loss of Butts, and has had to ensure his players are in a proper mental state to compete before taking the floor this season.

Moton's roster was largely transformed from its 2022-2023 version — 10 newcomers join only three returning players for the Eagles. Moton will have to shift the playing style of his team to better fit the mold of a roster consisting of a smattering of quick guards.

Last year, Brendan Medley-Bacon led the Eagles from the frontcourt on his way to earning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. With Medley-Bacon now gone, Moton will likely need to rely on a different style, which will feature consistent ball pressure throughout all 40 minutes.

He'll be able to substitute to keep legs fresh just as a hockey coach might. The new-look roster will be conducive to this style.

Finding consistency will be a huge challenge, especially early in the season. The overhauled roster will need time to feel comfortable on the court together, and long scoring droughts wouldn't be a shock at all.

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Kansas made a huge offseason splash by signing the most polarizing and arguably most talented transfer ever to enter the portal.

Hunter Dickinson chose to make his way to Lawrence to improve his draft profile by playing for a coach known for developing dominant low-post players. He'll make his Allen Fieldhouse regular season debut in this contest, and is a huge reason the Jayhawks received the nod as the preseason No. 1 team.

If you ask Coach Self, he would most likely tell you Dickinson was not the most important player to decide to play for his team this fall. My guess is that he would say Kevin McCullar Jr.'s decision to forego the NBA draft and return to Lawrence was the single most important decision impacting his team's outlook for the season.

McCullar had already decided the 2022-2023 season would be his last in college basketball. Heck, he even gave a speech on senior night to the crowd in Allen Fieldhouse after sealing a Kansas win with a huge play on a loose ball against his former team, the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

However, after reflecting and considering the improvement his friend Jalen Wilson made by returning last season, McCullar ultimately decided to come back to Lawrence for another title chase.

Behind McCullar and Dickinson, the Jayhawks have two very experienced and poised teammates in point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and forward K.J. Adams Jr. Those four players can probably stack up against the top four players from any other program in the country and have the advantage.

The looming concern for Kansas will be getting production and solid minutes from the "others."

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Kansas has frankly looked very shaky in the preseason, particularly on the offensive end. Much like NC Central, Kansas will need time early in the year to allow its new pieces to mesh with the core of Adams, Harris and McCullar.

One thing that should be reliable is energy and effort defensively from the Jayhawks. "Trying hard" sounds elementary, but is an exact quote given by Self when asked what he expects of his newcomers.

A staple of Self's teams over the years has been defensive intensity and pursuit of rebounds and loose balls. And if he's comfortable relaying that message to the media, you can bet he's been drilling that message home during offseason practices.

NC Central's defensive pressure and intensity should be enough to bother a Kansas team that certainly didn't look settled in offensively in its scrimmages against Illinois and Ft. Hays.

Still, the Eagles will struggle to score, especially against a much more talented and athletic opponent.

Take the under here and expect some offensive growing pains for each side as the season gets underway.

Pick: Under 141.5