Best bets for Kansas Jayhawks vs. Furman Paladins basketball

Zeke Mayo Under 1.5 3PM (-145)

Mayo’s season started off red hot, scoring 40 points across the team’s first two games. Since then, however, he is averaging less than nine points per game and has made just 19% of his outside shots. His move to the starting lineup has led to him taking a back seat on the offensive end. His three point attempts have been cut in half since the first two games of the season. In the four games since becoming a starter, he has made multiple 3-pointers in just one game.

On top of the lack of production, he is also facing a formidable 3-point defense. Furman is allowing the lowest 3-point percentage in the entire country. Opponents are making just 21% of their outside shots against the Paladins. Granted, they haven’t played anyone near the caliber of the Jayhawks, but something like 3-point defense tends to not fluctuate a ton depending on the level of opponent. The combination of Mayo’s struggles and Furman’s stout perimeter defense could make for a long day for the South Dakota State transfer.

Furman First Half +12.5 (-110)

Games during holiday breaks are always tough to pick a side on. The players likely had a day or two off to celebrate with their families, meaning they could be just the slightest bit rusty. The Jayhawks are also known for letting inferior opponents hang with them for the first 30 or so minutes before putting the hammer down late. This Furman team has also looked pretty good to start the season.

While they haven’t played much for high level competition, their 7-0 record is still impressive. They have also been very efficient shooting the ball. They are 13th in the country in FG%, 20th in 2P%, and 11th in 3PT%. Where they struggle is FT% (330th), Steals (108th), Turnovers (243rd), and Fouls (258th). While those are all important factors in the outcome of a game, I think they play more of a role in the second half and late in games. With their ability to shoot a high percentage, I could easily see this being a single-digit deficit at halftime.