Basketball Odds – Jayhawks Can Clinch Sole Possession of Big 12 Crown Saturday

The No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks can clinch sole possession of the Big 12 title with a win over the No. 22 Missouri Tigers on Saturday. The Morris brothers and company have already earned a share of the conference title with four straight wins since falling to the Kansas State Wildcats on Valentine’s Day, but that is not nearly good enough for a team that expects big things of itself for the coming season. Here’s a look at the basketball betting odds for this contest:

Kansas Jayhawks @ Missouri Tigers

Saturday March 5, 2011 – 12:00 PM ET

Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Missouri

Broadcast: CBS

Basketball Odds:

Kansas will play a Tigers’ team that has lost consecutive games at Kansas State and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, to make this their last chance to finish above .500 in conference play. Missouri is one game back of the Texas A&M Aggies and Wildcats for third spot in the Big 12, and will look to capitalize on the opportunity to move into a tie in their home finale.

Basketball Odds: What Kansas Will Have To Do To Win

Marcus and Markieff Morris have been absolutely dominant for the Jayhawks this season, including the 13 points they both put up in their win over the Aggies on Wednesday. They’ll need to be just as good against the Tigers to finish the season on a winning note. Kansas already has a Big 12 trophy after that victory, but the team has decided to hide it for now until they can clinch sole possession of it on Saturday night. It is that determination and focus that has head coach Bill Self excited about their prospects for the looming national title tournament. If they can abstain from looking too far ahead, the Jayhawks should be able to pull one out on the road.

Basketball Odds: What Missouri Will Have To Do To Win

Missouri will win if they approach this game as though it is being played with the Big 12 title on the line and they still have a chance at it. The Tigers will need to raiser their game to another level just to compete with the talent level of Kansas, and then again to match the intensity the Jayhawks will play with to clinch sole possession of the title. Marcus Denmon has been outstanding all year, but Missouri will really need forward Laurence Bowers to step up against the Morris brothers.

Basketball Odds: Outlook & Pick

The Tigers have really struggled recently, and their last two losses were against teams that aren’t even ranked in the top-25. Meanwhile, Kansas is playing its best basketball of the season heading into the postseason, and there is no reason to think that their run will end now with the Big 12 title on the line. The Jayhawks won by 17 in the first meeting of the season between these teams and although they probably won’t win as big on the road they should do enough to cover.

Basketball Odds Pick: Kansas