Texas vs Kansas State Betting Odds – Longhorns use depth to hold off Wildcats

NCAA Basketball Odds: Pick Texas

Texas has been an online betting favorite since the preseason to reach the Final Four, and the Longhorns have ascended to the top spot in the rankings. The Longhorns will face a pesky Kansas State team on Monday night in a Big 12 matchup, and Texas will use their size and depth advantage to remain unbeaten, along with Kentucky

WHAT: NCAA basketball betting

WHEN: Monday, January 18, 9:00 PM ET

WHERE: Bramlage Stadium, Manhattan, KS

KEY STAT: Texas has won three straight at Kansas State

The Storyline - Texas vs Kansas State Betting Odds
The No.1 Longhorns (17-0, 3-0) survived a 72-67 win over Texas A&M on the weekend, coming back from a 13-point deficit at halftime. The No.13 Wildcats (13-2, 2-1) came away with an 87-81 win at Colorado, and they’re a solid 9-1 at home. This should be a hard-fought game as eight of the last 10 meetings between these Big 12 teams have been decided by 10 points or less.

Offensive Matchups - Texas vs Kansas State Betting Odds
The Longhorns are second in the country in scoring, led by the powerful duo of Damion James and Dexter Pittman, while freshman guard Avery Bradley has been good as advertised. Texas is also deadly efficient, making 50.3% of their field-goal attempts. The bench was the difference in the win over A&M, outscoring their counterparts 34-7.

Kansas State are no slouches on the offensive end, coming in 14th in points scored and 44th in field-goal percentage at 47.3%. The Wildcats have experienced guards in Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente, while Curtis Kelly is their main threat inside. The Wildcats also grabbed 20 offensive boards in their win at Colorado, and they lead the country in free-throw attempts.

Betting Edge: Draw

Defensive Matchups - Texas vs Kansas State Betting Odds
Texas harasses the opposition inside and out, as they’re only 89th in points allowed, but sixth in field-goal defense. Bradley is a phenomenal defender for a freshman, while Pittman is a beast in the post, averaging 2.4 blocks per game. The Longhorns are also sixth in the nation in rebounding margin, led by James’ 11.4 boards.

The Wildcats allowed Colorado to shoot 53.5% from the field, and they can be inconsistent on this end of the floor as they’re 87th in field-goal defense. They don’t really have any dominant big men, so they block shots and hit the glass as a team. Kansas State is fourth in the Big 12 in rebounding, and they’ll need a monster effort on Monday.

Betting Edge: Texas

Coaching Matchup - Texas vs Kansas State Betting Odds
The reason Texas continues to be one of the top sportsbook choices in the NCAA every year is because Rick Barnes always brings in top talent, and he continued that trend by bringing Bradley to Austin. Barnes will have to keep this team focused as every team will have the Longhorns in their crosshairs.

Frank Martin is looking to get Kansas State back to the NCAA Tournament after last year’s trip to the NIT, but the Wildcats have averaged 21.5 wins in his first two seasons in Manhattan. Martin still has some work to do before his programs is up there with Texas and Kansas, but they’re going in the right direction.

Betting Edge: Texas

Betting Prediction - Texas vs Kansas State Betting Odds
The Wildcats are 1.5-point favorites at home, but the Longhorns have won three in a row in Manhattan, including two by three points or less. This should be another close game, and Texas should have gotten a wake-up call after the A&M game. One major advantage that Texas has is depth as the Longhorns can go eight or nine deep into their bench, which can wear the opposition out. Kansas State likes to get to the foul line, but the Longhorns have the depth to combat that. Also, look for Pittman, who was 0-of-5 from the field against A&M, to use his size advantage against the Wildcats.

WASHINGTON’S PICK: Texas +1.5

For more sports betting tips and analysis in college basketball en route to the Final Four, check out Washington in BetOnline’s The Betting Edge. For more on the Texas vs Kansas State matchup, please visit our stats section.