The majority of the attention this college basketball season has been on the No. 1 Syracuse Orange, which has set a school record with 20 straight wins to open the year. For a while, the No. 3 Baylor Bears maintained their ground with 17 straight wins before falling on the road to the No. 7 Kentucky Wildcats on the road in a 92-74 blowout that really exposed some of their flaws. The Bears won’t have much time to regroup with the No. 5 Missouri Tigers up next this Saturday, and how they respond in the face of adversity will go a long way in determining the outlook for the team going forward.(5) Missouri Tigers @ (3) Baylor Bears
Saturday January 21, 2011 – 2:00 PM ET
Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas
College Basketball Betting Line: Baylor – 2.5
The Tigers have looked just as strong as Baylor all year, with a tough road loss to Kansas State the only blemish on their otherwise perfect record. Missouri is right there with Baylor and Kansas fighting for the top spot in the Big 12, and they should be eager to prove that their status as sports betting underdogs for this game is incorrect.
College Basketball Betting Preview: Missouri
The atmosphere around the Big 12 is starting to heat up, and the Tigers will look to make their case as the team most qualified to take down Kansas when they travel to the Ferrell Center this weekend. Senior guard Marcus Denmon has been absolutely dominant for Missouri so far this season with an average of 17.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and at 6-3 has shown his ability to both attack the rim and defend at his own end of the floor. The Tigers have an excellent blend of size and speed throughout their lineup, and rank fourth in the country in average points with 83.1.
College Basketball Betting Preview: Baylor
Nothing seemed to go right for the Bears when they played the Jayhawks, but the majority of the blame can be placed on the players for a lack of focus and intensity. Part of the problem was the raucous atmosphere at the Phog Allen Fieldhouse, so Baylor should feel more comfortable in its own building. Perry Jones III helped keep his team hanging around with 18 points and five rebounds, but Quincy Miller and Pierre Jackson combined to shoot just 8-for-21 from the field, and both of them will need to be better as the favorites on Betonline.
College Basketball Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick
There is no denying that with Jones III leading the way the Bears have the potential to do some big things in the Big 12, but any chance they have at the top will require beating the top teams that they will face. Missouri comes in to this game with a ton of momentum behind them and feeling confident, and they should be able to at least keep it close down to the wire as the underdogs according to the pay head bookies.
College Basketball Betting Pick: Missouri Tigers + 2.5
