How to bet Kansas-Kansas State and other Big Monday games


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During the NFL season, Monday Night Football is the last chance to make up for a weekend of errant picks and bad bets. The same can be said about Big Monday in college basketball, only now we have an assortment of games from which to choose.


As we head toward conference tournament play and March Madness, we will feature our top three bets each Monday for you to pounce on. The Oscars may be over, but the show is just beginning.


Kansas Jayhawks at Kansas State Wildcats

On the heels of suffering the worst conference loss during the Bill Self era -- a 91-62 throttling at the hands of Texas Tech -- the Jayhawks face a red-hot in-state foe in Kansas State, which has won six of its last seven games. The key to everything for Kansas is Dedric Lawson, who has become a walking double-double (his 16 total ranks second among Power 5 players) and one of the premier forwards in the country.


In the 74-67 loss to Kansas State earlier this month, Lawson was good -- 18 points and nine rebounds -- but not great. Bruce Weber will once again deploy his seventh-ranked defense (per KenPom) to double the Memphis transfer and force the Kansas guards to make shots. Expect Lawson to come through in a big way, along with the two freshmen -- Quentin Grimes and Devon Dotson (44.1 percent 3s) -- who must find a rhythm early. Playing in the friendly confines of the Phog, KU covers in a good one against the current Big 12 leaders.
E+ pick: Kansas -3.5

Oklahoma Sooners at Iowa State Cyclones

With two straight wins, Oklahoma has avoided the tailspin, but it's hard to trust the Sooners when they are facing the likes of Hilton Magic. Iowa State is an offensive juggernaut, having just torched Kansas State -- in the raucous Octagon -- by a healthy 14-point margin. Virginia transfer Marial Shayok (18.5 PPG, 49.1 percent shooting) has been a revelation and is a legitimate Big 12 Player of the Year candidate with his ability to play at both ends of the floor.


The bigger issue for Oklahoma, however, is who checks Cyclones point guard Lindell Wigginton, finally healthy after a foot injury derailed a chunk of his sophomore campaign. Wigginton's dead-eye shooting (41.9 percent from 3-point range over his last five games) and ability to cut into the teeth of the stout Oklahoma defense will be a major problem.
E+ pick: Iowa State -9

Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Florida State Seminoles

A trifecta of favorites! Mike Brey has won plenty of games in South Bend, but no magic in his turtlenecks will salvage what is shaping up to be the worst Irish season in 23 years. Most notably, Notre Dame doesn't defend anyone, which is a problem against a Florida State roster with serious firepower.


Winners of eight of their past nine games -- FSU just had its school-record eight-game ACC win streak snapped by North Carolina -- the Seminoles boast quality clips in both offensive (32nd) and defensive (14th) efficiency, per KenPom. Their combination of athleticism and depth -- nine guys play more than 10 minutes each night -- will wear Notre Dame down in a hurry. Nobody presents more of a problem than senior Terance Mann, a super-efficient wing (52-47-78) who should feast in this matchup against the undermanned Irish. Give me the 'Noles big.
E+ pick: Florida State -12.5