These are not Sportspicks "Recommended Picks"

• Well we had a tough night on Thursday. It wasn't a total failure, as we went 5-6 ATS, but that won't turn a profit for us. However, Momma said there would be days like this, and we're gonna look to get it back on track this weekend!! In this post, I'll give my picks for tonight and tomorrow, as well as my "Game of the Night" preview for the top match-up of the weekend. Hope you guy's enjoy. Let's have a BIG weekend!!

Game of the Night

#9 Baylor vs #5 Kansas

Location: Allen Fieldhouse - Lawrence, KS

Tip-Off: Saturday 2/18/23 4:00 PM EST

• Top to bottom, the Big 12 is the strongest conference in the country. It's the only conference without a single team under .500. The last place team in the league, Oklahoma, is sitting at 13-13 and boasts a 93-69 victory over current #1 Alabama. If the team that is last in your league has the capability of beating the #1 ranked team by 20+ on any given day, then your league is probably pretty strong. Every team in the conference is still in the NCAA Tournament hunt, and they'll, most likely, get at least 8 teams in the field. There are 3 teams tied atop the Big 12 standings (Kansas, Texas, Baylor), and two of those teams will face-off in Lawrence, Kansas on Saturday afternoon. The #9 Baylor Bears will go on the road to Allen Fieldhouse, where they've lost 18 of their last 19 games, to take on the #5 Kansas Jayhawks. The Bears are the league's hottest team, currently, having won 10 of their last 11. The only setback being a 76-71 defeat at Texas. Baylor is coming off a 79-67 home victory over West Virginia on Monday Night, in a game they pretty much controlled from the tip. They were leading by 7 at the half, and saw that lead swell to 19 in the 2nd Half before ultimately winning by 12. The Bears are led by Senior Guard Adam Flagler, who is one of several players still on the team, that helped win the school's first National Championship in 2021. Flagler averages 15.8 ppg and 5.0 assists, to go along with 1.3 steals per game. Fellow Seniors Flo Thamba and Jonathan Tchamwa Thatchoua are key contributors, and provide a strong presence down low. Junior Guard LJ Cryer was a limited contributor on the National Championship team as a Freshman, but is now one of the leaders for this Baylor squad. Cryer averages 14.9 ppg, shooting 42.8% from 3-Point range. Even with all that experience, the best player on the court for the Bears may be Freshman Guard Keyonte George. George was a 5-Star recruit, and the #7 overall player in 2022 Class. It's safe to say that he hasn't disappointed. He's the team's leading scorer at 16.5 ppg, and averages 4.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, and 1.2 steals per game. If he could improve on anything, it would be his long-range game. George is shooting 33.7% from deep, which isn't terrible, but I'm sure Head Coach Scott Drew would LOVE to see that number get closer to 40%. Either way, Baylor has a very strong squad, with a solid core of guy's who know what it takes to win it all.
  The Kansas Jayhawks are the defending National Champions, and have won 5 of their last 6 games, after a rare 3-game losing streak. The Jayhawks overwhelmed Oklahoma State in the 2nd Half of their game on Tuesday, shooting 65.5 % (19 of 29) from the field, including 45.5% (5 of 11) from 3, after the intermission. Kansas defeated the Cowboys 87-76, and remain in a 3-way tie for 1st Place in the league. They're led by "Player of the Year" candidate Jalen Wilson, who averages 20.3 ppg and 8.2 rpg. However, he's not the only Jayhawk who can hurt you. Freshman Guard Gradey Dick averages 14.7 ppg (42.7% 3-Point), and scored 24 in the first meeting against Baylor. Guards Kevin McCullar Jr. (10.8 ppg) and Dajuan Harris Jr. ( 8.0 ppg, 6.1 apg) both average 2 steals per game, and are experienced leaders for HC Bill Self's squad. Not to mention, Sophomore K.J. Adams (10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 spg) can be a real presence on the inside, and cuts to the basket as well as anyone. The Jayhawks have been one of the top teams in the country all season, and their built for another Final Four run... IF they can stay out of their own way...

Key Match-Up

Baylor Offense vs Kansas Defense

• Baylor has the #1 Offense in the country in terms of efficiency, and can hurt you in multiple ways. They are in the top 100 in 3-Point %, 2-Point %, and Free-Throw %. The Bears offensive efficiency in Big 12 play is 8 points higher than No. 2 Texas, and they've also been the top 3-Point shooting team in the league (36.6%). Where Baylor really separates themselves, is on the offensive glass. They're 11th in the country in offensive rebounding percentage (36%), and had 17 offensive boards in the first meeting vs Kansas. That, combined with 15 Jayhawk turnovers, was the difference in the game. Kansas gives up 8.7 (#227) opponent offensive rebounds per game, and will have to find a way to right that ship if they want to avenge their loss to the Bears earlier this season. However, it's not all bad for Self's guy's on the defensive end. They rank 43rd (47.1%) in the country in Opponent Effective FG %, and opponents are only shooting 41.3% (31.9% 3-Point, 46.7% 2-Point), on average, when they play the Jayhawks. For Kansas to come away with the victory Saturday, they'll need to establish themselves early on the defensive boards and eliminate second-chance points that doomed them in the first game. Baylor was only 9 of 30 from 3, and 14 of 32 from inside the arc in the first match-up. If the Jayhawks can replicate that performance, and not get completely DOMINATED on the offensive glass, they have the offensive firepower to run away from the Bears. However, if they can't establish a presence in the paint, it could be another long day for Coach Self and Company.

Prediction

• The Big 12 race is as wide-open as any conference in the country, with 6 teams who could potentially take home the regular-season crown. Every game matters at this point, and it's tough to win on the road in this league. Winning the big games in front of your home crowd is CRITICAL. In the first match-up, Jalen Wilson hit a 3 from the left wing with 15:24 left in the 2nd Half to give Kansas their only lead of the game at 46-45, but Baylor then went on a 12-3 run and the Jayhawks were down by at least 6 points the rest of the way. The, aforementioned, 17 offensive rebounds for Baylor, coupled with 15 Jayhawk turnovers proved to be the difference. Kansas has only been "swept" by a team (lost both regular season match-ups) in Big 12 play ONE time since Bill Self became the Head Coach in Lawrence. Both of these teams have been playing well of late, and it should be a "Final Four" type atmosphere inside Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday. In a match-up of the last two National Champions, I look for Kansas to respond in a BIG way in this one. This should be a back-and-forth battle for most of the contest, but I think the Jayhawks pair a strong defensive showing with an above-average shooting night on the offensive end, and make a big run late to put this one to bed!! Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick combine for 45+ points, and the Bears don't shoot it well enough to keep them in this one!!

My Pick: Kansas -5

Final Score: Kansas 79 Baylor 71

Crick's Picks: 2/17/23

• Cornell -10 vs Dartmouth 6:00 PM EST

• Kent State -17.5 vs Eastern Michigan 6:00 PM EST

• Penn +3 vs Yale 7:00 PM EST

• Brown +6.5 @ Princeton 7:00 PM EST

• Loyola Chicago +7 vs Dayton 7:00 PM EST

• Iona -16 vs Manhattan 7:00 PM EST

• Siena -3 vs Quinnipiac 9:00 PM EST

• San Jose State -1.5 vs New Mexico 10:30 PM EST

Favorite "Longshot" (+400 or worse) of the Night 2/17/23

• Columbia +410 vs Harvard 7:00 PM EST

Free ML Parlay 2/17/23 (6 Picks)

Team just has to win Game. No "Spread" in Effect

• Rider -300

• Cleveland State -145

• Fairfield -130

• Southern Utah -430

• Wyoming -225

• Grand Canyon -330

Total Odds Boost = +824

10.00 to win 82.46

100.00 to win 824.00

Crick's Picks 2/18/23

• Indiana -6 vs Illinois 12:00 PM EST

• West Virginia -6.5 vs Texas Tech 12:00 PM EST

• Tennessee -2 @ Kentucky 1:00 PM EST

• Arkansas -9 vs Florida 2:00 PM EST

• Fordham +7.5 @ VCU 2:30 PM EST

• Xavier -13.5 vs Depaul 4:00 PM EST

• Navy -10.5 vs Loyola Maryland 4:00 PM EST

• Providence -4 vs Villanova 4:30 PM EST

• Georgia +18.5 @ Alabama 6:00 PM EST

• Princeton +1 vs Yale 6:00 PM EST

• Robert Morris -3 vs Milwaukee 7:00 PM EST

• St. John's +7 vs Creighton 7:30 PM EST

• Oral Roberts -14 vs North Dakota State 8:00 PM EST

• Duquesne +5.5 @ Saint Louis 8:00 PM EST

• Saint Mary's -10 vs BYU 10:00 PM EST

• UCLA -25 vs California 10:30 PM EST

Favorite "Longshots" (+400 or worse) of the Night 2/18/23

Only 10% (or less) of "Unit Bet" Recommended for "Longshots"

For Example: If you normally bet 20$ per play, you shouldn't risk more than 2$ per play on these "Longshots"

• Oklahoma +410 @ Texas 2:00 PM EST

• Louisville +400 vs Clemson 7:00 PM EST

Free ML Parlay (8 Picks) 2/18/23

Team just has to win game. No "Spread" in effect

• UConn -550

• Southern Miss -400

• Miami FL -330

• South Alabama -775

• Drexel -210

• MTSU -360

• USC -275

• Utah State -205

Total Odds Boost = +731

10.00 to win 73.16

100.00 to win 731.00

Good Luck this Weekend!!!!

-Crickett