Kansas State vs. Baylor Prediction and Odds (Can Wildcats Stay Close?)

Baylor has put a two game skid in the rearview mirror with back-to-back wins against Big 12 foes, but now they get a frisky Kansas State team that is playing some of their best ball of the season at home.

The Wildcats have finally gotten healthy and have won two of three against a trio of KenPom top 20 teams. Kansas needed a furious second half rally to erase a double digit deficit that held Kansas State from a three game winning streak. Before that, Bruce Weber's team beat Texas Tech and Texas on the road.

Will they run out of gas playing the defending National Champions? Here are the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook.

Kansas State vs. Baylor Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

• Kansas State: +14 (-110)
• Baylor: -14 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Kansas State: +680
• Baylor: -1025

Total: 137 (Over -110/Under -110)

Kansas State vs. Baylor Prediction and Pick

These have been the two best three-point shooting teams in Big 12 play, but I'm not sure we can expect such a barrage on Tuesday as both teams are holding teams below 30% from the perimeter in league play. I lean towards defenses thriving with a slower pace as well.

Kansas State has been playing hard and much better and I don't believe the betting market is catching up to the now healthy Wildcats that have been shuffling their lineups all season. Players like Marquis Nowell and Mike McGuirl have missed times in Big 12 play already.

What makes me think KSU can hang around this number is their elite ball protection, best in the conference since the start of January. Baylor thrives on turnovers and their defense has been middling since the start of conference play, namely because of injuries. If they aren't turning opponents over, they are bleeding points, namely inside with the worst two-point defense in Big 12 play.

Starting guard James Akinjo is on the injury report again after playing against Oklahoma, in addition to Jeremy Sochan who has missed the last four. I would wait for more clarity on the Bears' injury report, but I am leaning in the direction of the visitors.

The only thing keeping me off this bet is the fatigue factor for K-State, who will be playing their fourth straight elite foe. To be honest, going 2-2 may be good enough for Weber's bunch, so I'm laying off this.

LEAN: Kansas State +12.5 (-110)

All of Reed's college basketball plays can be tracked here, his best bets column for college basketball is 24-29-3 for -6.02 units.