Miami vs Kansas Predictions, Odds, Picks

• The Miami Hurricanes beat the Iowa State Cyclones 70-56 in the Sweet 16.
• The Kansas Jayhawks beat the Providence Friars 66-61 in the Sweet 16.
• These two teams last played each other in 1991.

Miami Hurricanes vs Kansas Jayhawks Odds

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook

The gritty Miami Hurricanes will take on the tough Kansas Jayhawks in the Elite Eight. These teams have faced each other four times before, but the last time was in 1991. Kansas won that 1991 matchup 73-60.

The Miami Hurricanes are an unlikely Elite Eight team. They entered March Madness as a 10-seed in their region but beat the USC Trojans and Auburn Tigers in the first two rounds.

The Hurricanes took on the Iowa State Cyclones in the Sweet 16. The game looked like it would be close at the end of the first half, and Miami only led by three points. The Cyclones tried to keep it close in the second half, but Miami pulled away with a little over seven minutes left. The Hurricanes won 70-56 and became the second ACC team to make the Elite Eight. Kameron McGusty had an outstanding game and led the Hurricanes in scoring with 27 points. 12 of his 27 points came from three-pointers.

The Hurricanes do not typically play great defense but stifled Iowa State in their last game. They need to continue playing lockdown defense against Kansas. The Jayhawks know Miami has no problem scoring, so the Hurricanes’ real test comes on the defensive side.

It is not surprising the Kansas Jayhawks are in the Elite Eight. The Jayhawks were one of the best teams in the country this season and have a veteran squad. Even so, Kansas has not breezed through the first three rounds. They crushed the Texas Southern Tigers 83-56 in the First Round, but only squeaked out a 79-72 win against an injured Creighton Blue Jays squad in the Second Round.

The Jayhawks took on the Providence Friars in the Sweet 16 and came out hot. They led 26-17 going into the half, but Providence fought back in the second. The Friars outscored Kansas by four points in the second half, but it was too little, too late. Kansas won 66-61, and once again, Remy Martin was the player of the game.

I enjoy watching Miami’s cinderella run, but this will be their last game. Kansas has too many weapons not to win this game. With that being said, this game will be close and a defensive battle.

Pick:

Kansas beats Miami 64-60. Miami covers, Over 147 points.

Head-to-Head: Iowa State Cyclones vs Miami Hurricanes

Why Might the Miami Hurricanes Win?

The Hurricanes have their toughest matchup yet in the Kansas Jayhawks. They need to play strong team defense and win the rebounding battle to win this game.

Miami does not usually have a great defense but locked down Iowa State in the Sweet 16. They need to continue being defensively dominant against this high-powered Kansas offense.

Miami has a smaller team and struggles to rebound. They average a measly 30.5 rebounds a game. That will not be good enough in this matchup. They need to attack the boards and win the rebounding battle. It will be very difficult but is necessary.

Take a look at NCAA tournament predictions and picks!

Why Might the Kansas Jayhawks Win?

The Kansas Jayhawks have the upper hand in this game, but it will still be a battle. The Jayhawks need to focus on stealing the ball from Miami and protecting the rim.

The Jayhawks play decent defense and average 6.4 steals a game but need to step it up against Miami. Miami has a high-scoring offense and is averaging 72.3 points over the three March Madness games, so Kansas needs to limit their scoring opportunities by taking away the ball.

Miami is a smaller team than Kansas but shoots very well; they hit 47.8% of their shots. Kansas needs to play big at the rim and force Miami to outside for shots. This should not be too difficult; Kansas has had no problem stopping opposing players at the rim this March.

See what’s the best online sportsbook for payouts before you sign up!

Hurricanes Key Player: (G) Kameron McGusty

Guard Kameron McGusty is averaging 23.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 4.0 steals over the last two games. He is Miami’s leading scorer and a leader on the court.

Cameron needs to continue coming up big on offense and defense against Kansas. He needs to set the tone for Miami with active hands on defense and active feet on offense.

Jayhawks Key Player: (G) Remy Martin

Guard Remy Martin was made for March. After spending much of the regular season injured, he has come off the bench for some huge points in the last few games. He is averaging 19.3 points per game in March Madness.

Martin needs to continue creating scoring opportunities for himself. If that does not work, he should try to find his teammates. He will probably also be tasked with guarding one of Miami’s better scorers, so he needs to play lockdown defense.

How to Watch Miami Hurricanes vs Kansas Jayhawks