NCAA Free Prediction: No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks at No. 4 Missouri Tigers
Saturday, February 04, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
The stakes are always high when border rivals Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks get together, but the intensity might be at an all-time crescendo when the No. 4 Tigers host the No. 8 Jayhawks at Mizzou Arena.
Not only are the teams squaring off for the 15th time when both are ranked in the top 10, but both are also in contention for the Big 12 title, and perhaps a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. To add to the atmosphere, ESPN's College Gameday has selected Mizzou Arena as the site for its broadcast for the first time in school history.
This also could be the last season the archrivals meet for the foreseeable future, with Missouri headed to the Southeastern Conference next season. The programs have met 266 times dating back to 1907, with Kansas holding a 171-94 lead in the series.
- Kansas Jayhawks @ Missouri Tigers
When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 4, 2012
Where: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Missouri
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com
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Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Tigers listed as 3-point favorites versus the Jayhawks.
Kansas Jayhawks (18-4): The Jayhawks have won seven straight regular-season conference titles, and despite what was supposed to be something of a rebuilding year, they find themselves atop the standings again. The Jayhawks will be underdogs for a change, though – they haven't been ranked below the Tigers when the teams met since March 1, 2009, when No. 15 Kansas beat No. 11 Missouri 90-65 at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas should have an advantage in the paint, where Thomas Robinson (17.6 points, 12.0 rebounds) has been a dominant force.
Missouri Tigers (20-2): The Tigers hit the 20-win plateau for the fourth straight season with their win at Texas on Monday. Missouri has won 20 or more games in four straight seasons only three times in history, most recently from 1988-92. The 7-2 start to conference play is Missouri's best since the 2008-09 team opened 11-2 in Big 12 games. The senior-laden Tigers are led by guard Marcus Denmon, whose 17.2 points per game ranks fourth in the Big 12, and forward Ricardo Ratliffe, who leads the nation in field goal percentage (75.1) and scored 14.7 points per game.
1. Kansas has won nine of the previous 14 meetings in which both teams were ranked in the top 10.
2. Missouri and Kansas have played 142 games that were decided by single digits and 85 that were decided by five points or less. Kansas holds the advantage in both – 82-60 when the margin is 10 or less and 46-39 when its five or less.
3. The Jayhawks already have handed two conference opponents (Oklahoma and Texas) their first home loss of the season, and they can make it three. Missouri is 13-0 at Mizzou Arena.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Tigers 75, Jayhawks 71.
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kansas jayhawks - marcus denmon - missouri tigers - mizzou arena - ncaa tournament - ricardo ratliffe - thomas robinson
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