2018 March Madness best bets & tips for Pennsylvania vs. Kansas

Pennsylvania Quakers (24-8 SU 13-14 ATS) vs. Kansas Jayhawks (27-7 SU 18-14 ATS)
DATE: 2PM ET Thursday March 15 on TBS
LINE: Kansas -14 Over/Under 146.5

Is this the season where history is made?

The #16 seed has never knocked off a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and Kansas is the top seed in the Midwest Region after coming off their 14th-straight Big 12 regular season championship. The Jayhawks also won the conference tournament and while their defense ranks in the middle of the pack in terms of points allowed, Kansas rank 32nd in the nation in ppg.

Penn had a solid season with 24 wins and the Quakers captured the Ivy League conference tournament. Pennsylvania is a balanced team, but not nearly as athletic and their defense will have to play great for them to have any chance. Penn faced another Big Dance top seed facing Villanova before Ivy League play began, but they would like to forget that game, which they lost by 28 points.

In their games held at a neutral site this season Penn is 4-1 and Kansas is 5-1.

At Bovada Kansas is at +1400 to win the NCAA Tournament while Penn is a tad of a long-shot at +100000.

These teams have not met since the 2000 season.

Penn vs. Kansas key betting trends

• Penn is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games
• Penn is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games facing teams from the Big 12
• Penn has an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 games
• Kansas is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games
• Kansas is 12-5 ATS in their last 17 non-conference games
• Kansas has an Over record of 5-1-1 in their last 7 games

Penn beat Harvard 68-65 in the championship game of the Ivy League conference tournament where Darnell Foreman was the high scorer for the Quakers going for 19 points. Ryan Betley and AJ Brodeur combined for 33 points. Their defense held Harvard to 41.8% shooting and they have to keep Kansas from shooting the rock well or they may get blown out. Betley (14.5 ppg) led four players on the season averaging in double figures and Brodeur ranked second, averaging 13.1 ppg and led the team with 7.1 rpg. He has registered a double-double in his last two games and the Quakers’ work on the boards will be key in this game, as they have to hit the glass and not allow Kansas to pull down a lot of offensive rebounds.

Kansas beat a ranked West Virginia team 81-70 in the Big 12 title game where the Jayhawks shot a scorching 56.4% from the floor and they held the Mountaineers to 40% shooting. Malik Newman led the team with 20 points and Wooden Award finalist Devonte’ Graham went for 1=8 points and also had 13 assists. Graham (17.3 ppg) leads a deep Kansas team that has five players averaging at least 12 ppg. 7-foot C Udoka Azubuike is averaging 13.7 ppg and 7.1 rpg and while he has missed the last few games with a knee injury it is too bad for Penn that he is listed as probable for this first round match-up.

Penn vs. Kansas betting prediction

Penn is a solid team, but they are well out-matched in this game. Kansas has more height and quickness on the perimeter and the Quakers will not be able to deal with either of those aspects. The Jayhawks have their sights on a national title and that run will begin with a blowout win in this game, as they will easily get the win and cover the spread at Bovada as well.