Cincinnati Bearcats vs Kansas Jayhawks Point Spread Picks

Cincinnati has won three in a row, allowing an average of 66.3 points. The Bearcats are fourth in the 16-team Big 12 in points given up (67 per game) and in shooting allowed (.411). The offense is just 15th in scoring (72.3 points per game) and last in long-range shooting (.322). Cincinnati is 6-3 UNDER the total on the road this season, part of a 19-6 run UNDER overall. Kansas is also great defensively, No. 1 in points allowed per game (.384). Kansas is 18-8 UNDER the total this season. Take Cincinnati/Kansas UNDER the total. 

Kansas is sixth in the country in field goal shooting defense (37.3%), going 12 straight games UNDER the total. They're on a 19-6 run UNDER. Cincinnati will have to lean on its defense after three straight Big 12 losses that caused the team to go from No. 16 in the country to the bottom of the Big 12 standings. The Bearcats play tough defense for coach Wes Miller, allowing 61 points per game, second in the Big 12. They're also 23rd in the nation in shooting allowed (39.1%). Cincinnati is on a 12-1 run UNDER the total. Take Kansas/Cincinnati UNDER the total. 

It's the opening round of the Big 12 Championship tournament, and No. 11 seed Cincinnati is on a 5-7 SU, 5-6-1 ATS run. They lost three of those as a favorite, including an 80-76 loss at home to Oklahoma State as double-digit chalk. The offense is 10th in the 14-team Big 12 in points scored, 11th in shooting (.435), 12th from the free throw line (.690), last in 3-point shooting (.296), and 10th in assist-to-turnover ratio. Cincinnati is 3-11 ATS away from home after scoring 80+ points in the last game. Cincinnati had to play yesterday, rallying from a 16-point deficit to beat West Virginia, while Kansas is rested. The Bearcats played their third straight game without 6-foot-11 center Viktor Lakhin (ankle injury) while 3-point specialist C.J. Fredrick Jr. (hamstring) is still out. No. 6 seed Kansas had the No. 1 strength of schedule in the nation. They're sixth in the Big 12 in scoring, No. 1 in field goal shooting (.485), and second in assist-to-turnover ratio, while the defense is sixth in points allowed and third in field goal shooting allowed (.422). They're also 10th in the nation in assists per game (19.0). Kansas is 56-36 ATS off a road loss, 41-20 ATS after scoring just 60 points, and 38-19 ATS after a double-digit defeat. Play Kansas as my Conference Tournament Game of the Year.