Kansas Jayhawks Betting Odds – Primed For a Deep Run

As sports betting enthusiasts prepare for March Madness, the question on everyone’s mind is, “Who is best positioned to make a run to the national championship?” Only a few teams stand out as legitimate answers to such a query, and the Kansas Jayhawks are one of those teams.

Kansas Jayhawks Betting Odds – They Will Go Far In The NCAA Tournament Because…
NCAA basketball betting in the month of March is a very risky enterprise, due to the always-unpredictable nature of America’s favorite single-elimination tournament. One bad game is enough to take down a prominent powerhouse and wreak havoc with sportsbook odds. Everyone wants to know which teams can be trusted in March. The question must be asked, then: Why should anyone trust Kansas?

The answer? Two words: Sherron Collins.

If Ty Lawson was the central source of North Carolina’s championship run last season, Collins will be the engine behind a Jayhawk run to the 2010 title, and at the very least, to the Final Four in Indianapolis. Collins – even when injured or tired – summons up his best stuff at crunch time, with the ultimate example being his heroic display in the latter stages of a win at Kansas State on Jan. 30. Collins might have scored only 16 points in that game one month ago, but he played through cramps to hit the biggest shots of the evening while the rest of his teammates were getting smothered by KSU’s relentless defense.

There will be a tight game – probably in the Elite Eight – when Kansas will need a clutch basket. Collins is very likely to not only take the big shot for coach Bill Self’s ballclub; the senior leader from Chicago is a good bet to make that shot and carry his team to the Final Four at the very least.

Kansas Jayhawks Betting Odds –They Exit Out Of The Tournament Early Because…
If there’s a knock on Kansas, it’s sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor, who has struggled to blend into Self’s offensive system. Taylor’s inconsistent play held back KU for some time this season, and if he doesn’t elevate his game in March, a strong defense-minded opponent could shut down the Jayhawks and create a low-scoring game that could go down to the wire. Taylor is certainly the weakest link in KU’s starting five.

Kansas Jayhawks Betting Odds – Best Player
It’s Collins, for all the reasons mentioned above. Center Cole Aldrich is a stout defender, an above-average shot blocker, and a solid rebounder, but nobody on KU makes more big plays than Collins.

Kansas Jayhawks Betting Odds – X-Factor
If you want to identify a big key other than Collins (as a positive force) or Tyshawn Taylor (as a source of concern), you’d have to look at 6-6 tweener guard Xavier Henry. The freshman from Oklahoma City has long arms and plays more like a small forward, even though he’s listed as a guard in box scores. Henry has averaged 18 points per game in his last six outings, but in his previous five contests (from Jan. 23 through Feb. 6), he averaged just six points per game. Henry’s length and athleticism will make him a tough man for opponents to guard. On the other hand, there’s no telling how the freshman will handle the pressure of the NCAA Tournament. While Collins and Aldrich can be trusted, Henry is the kind of player who can break either way. If he’s on, KU is just about unbeatable. If he’s off, the Jayhawks become somewhat vulnerable.

Kansas Jayhawks Betting Odds – March Madness Prediction
At the moment, the Jayhawks are the best team in the United States. That’s a debatable point (Syracuse fans would like to argue for their club), but KU owns a very impressive body of work. Sherron Collins won’t allow this team to lose before the Final Four, but one should be a little concerned about the youth on this team. There are no great teams in college basketball this year, and that suggests that a formidable foe from the other half of the bracket could knock off the Jayhawks in the very last game of the season.

Pick: Lose In National Championship Game

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