Kansas vs Howard March Madness Picks, 03/16

Odds

2022-2023 season stats

Preview

The Men's Basketball Championship is set to kick off with a clash between the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks and the No. 16 seed Howard Bison in the West Region 1st Round on March 16th, 2023. While the matchup might seem lopsided on paper, the unpredictability of March Madness always leaves room for surprises. The Bison come into this game with a record of 22-12, earning a spot in the tournament after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks have had a solid season, finishing with a record of 27-7, and they are considered one of the favorites to win it all. Will Howard pull off an upset for the ages, or will Kansas flex their muscles and advance to the next round? Let's take a closer look at both teams and make a prediction.

Howard Bison

The Howard Bison have had a successful season, finishing with a record of 22-12. They won the MEAC Tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament, and they are led by senior guard Elijah Hawkins, who averages 13.0 points per game. Hawkins is a solid scorer who can create his own shot and knock down shots from beyond the arc. He is also a strong passer, averaging 5.9 assists per game.

In addition to Hawkins, the Bison have several other players who can contribute offensively, including Steve Settle III and Makur Maker. They are also solid on the defensive end, ranking 136th in the nation in points allowed per game.

However, the Bison face a significant challenge in this game against Kansas. The Jayhawks are a much stronger team, both offensively and defensively, and they have much more experience playing in high-pressure situations. The Bison will need to play their best game of the season if they want to have a chance to upset the Jayhawks.

One area where Howard could potentially exploit Kansas is in turnovers. The Bison rank 25th in the nation in turnovers forced per game, averaging 16.3. They have a quick and aggressive defense that can disrupt their opponents' offensive flow and create transition opportunities.

Kansas Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhawks are one of the top basketball programs in the nation, and they have had another impressive season with a record of 27-7. They are a well-rounded team that can score points in a variety of ways and also excel on the defensive end of the court. One of their strengths is their offense, which ranks 18th in the nation in points per game. They are led by junior forward Jalen Wilson, who averages 20.1 points per game. Wilson is an excellent scorer who can score both inside and outside and is also a strong rebounder, averaging 8.4 rebounds per game.

In addition to Wilson, the Jayhawks have several other players who can contribute offensively, including Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack, and Christian Braun. They are also solid on the defensive end, ranking 22nd in the nation in points allowed per game. The Jayhawks have a deep roster, and their players are experienced in playing in high-pressure situations.

However, one area where the Jayhawks could improve is their three-point shooting. They rank just 200th in the nation in three-point percentage, shooting just 33.4% from beyond the arc. If they want to make a deep run in the tournament, they will need to shoot the ball better from long range and take advantage of open shots.

BETTING TRENDS

Howard are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Howard's last 6 games.

Howard are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Howard's last 6 games played in March.

The total has gone OVER in 6 of Howard's last 7 games played on a Thursday.

Kansas are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Kansas' last 7 games.

Kansas are 9-2 SU in their last 11 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Kansas' last 6 games played in March.

Prediction

The Kansas Jayhawks have a deep roster filled with talented players and have played against much tougher competition throughout the season. Howard, on the other hand, is a relatively inexperienced team that has not faced the level of competition that Kansas has.

Kansas has a dominant offense, averaging 75.2 points per game and shooting 42.8% from the field. They are led by junior forward Jalen Wilson, who averages 20.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The Jayhawks also have a strong supporting cast, including guards Remy Martin and Dajuan Harris Jr., who can also contribute significantly on the offensive end.

Howard's defense will need to step up if they want to have any chance of slowing down the Jayhawks. The Bison allow an average of 69.2 points per game and have struggled against stronger offenses throughout the season. They will need a strong defensive effort to keep the game close.

Offensively, the Bison will need a big performance from Elijah Hawkins, their leading scorer, if they want to have any chance of upsetting the Jayhawks. However, even if Hawkins has a big game, it may not be enough to overcome the talent and experience of the Kansas team.

Overall, Kansas is a much stronger team than Howard, and we expect them to win this game handily. However, with a 21.5-point spread, it is possible that Howard could cover in the later stages of the game when the Jayhawks' starters are resting. Nevertheless, we predict that Kansas will win this game with a comfortable margin and advance to the second round of the tournament.

PICK: Howard +21.5 (-110)

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