Ladies and gentlemen, as we approach March Madness the games just get even more exciting. This is absolutely exemplified by a top 15 matchup this week between the Jayhawks of Kansas and the Houston Cougars. This has all the fixings of a great showdown, and I’m here to break it down a bit for you. Let’s get into it.

Man is Houston good. They’re ranked number one overall for good reason, having only lost three games all season while playing in a very good conference. While they might not score as many points as other teams, averaging just 74.1 points a game, they are incredibly efficient and ranked tied for 26th in offensive rating. That is not even their strong suit, as they are the number one defense in the entire NCAA by defensive rating with an incredible 90.5. 9-1 in their last ten and on an eight game win streak, this team will be hard to stop. L.J. Cryer has been a stud as has Jamal Shead, and the supporting cast has done their jobs and done them well. Will the Kansas Jayhawks be able to steal a game from this stacked Cougars team while they’re at home?

I think this one might be closer than some people would guess. Kansas is highly ranked as well, 14th overall and 4th in the Big 12. They score 77 points a game and shoot at a 49.8% clip which ties them for 6th in the country. They also have a solid defense, tied for 42nd in the country by defensive rating. Kevin McCullar should be back playing this game which is huge for Kansas as he averages almost 20 a game. Hunter Dickinson has also been great, and this Kansas team is so deep with many scoring threats. I don’t want to just come out and say Kansas will absolutely win this one, but it might be closer than people think and they definitely have a chance.

Remember to always bet responsibly!