Fred Bramlage Coliseum - Manhattan, KS
Tip-off: Monday, 9:00 p.m. ET
Line: Kansas -5.0

No. 8 Kansas heads to Manhattan Monday for a meeting with in-state rival Kansas State.

No. 8 Kansas hosted TCU on Saturday and won 81-72 as a 13-point favorite. The Jayhawks shot 58.3% from the field in that game, but also allowed more points than they had hoped. They’ve now failed to cover in two straight games and will look to change that with a statement win in Fred Bramlage Coliseum. Kansas State, meanwhile, lost 69-42 at Baylor on Saturday. The Wildcats have now lost their past two games SU and ATS and they’ve lost eight of their past 10 SU also. The team is really struggling offensively, failing to score 60 or more points in eight of their past 10 contests. They’ve shot under 40% from the field in seven of their past eight games and will really need to start scoring more efficiently. These two teams met Jan. 31, when the Jayhawks won 68-57 as 12-point home favorites. Over the past three seasons, Kansas is 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS when playing Kansas State. The team is also 14-3 SU and 13-4 ATS in Kansas State since 1997. The Wildcats did, however, win-and-cover when they hosted the Jayhawks last season. Kansas is 10-3 ATS after having won three of its past four games this season. The Jayhawks are also 0-6 ATS in road games after four straight contests committing 14 or less turnovers over the past two seasons though. Kansas State, meanwhile, is 17-6 ATS after failing to cover in two of their past three games over the past three seasons. G Conner Frankamp (Personal) is no longer with Kansas and Fs Brandon Bolden (Wrist) and D.J. Johnson (Foot) are out for the season for Kansas State.

Can Kansas State upset Kansas in Manhattan Monday? For the latest college basketball picks, check out The Platinum Sheet for all the StatFox Experts selections every week throughout the entire 2013-14 season. The experts have been heating up since Dec. 23, combining for a 56% ATS mark (125-97-3) in college basketball Best Bets. StatFox Gary is a strong 58% ATS (26-19) during this timeframe to improve to 59% ATS (44-31) for the season. StatFox Brian is 65% ATS (26-14-1) in Best Bets since Dec. 28 to put him at 58% ATS (43-31-1) this season, while StatFox Zach is on a 59% ATS (22-15) Best Bets run since Jan. 1 and has a 56% ATS mark (42-33) this season. StatFox Scott is a strong 57% ATS (27-20-1) in Best Bets since Dec. 23, and StatFox Dave is 64% ATS (7-4) since Feb. 6.

The Jayhawks are coming off of a solid win against TCU and their offense remains excellent, putting up 72.1 PPG (66th in NCAA) on 44.9% shooting (103rd in NCAA). This team is also solid on the defensive end, allowing just 64.4 PPG (126th in NCAA) despite giving up 72 against TCU on Saturday. F Perry Ellis (13.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG) had a big game on Saturday, finishing with 23 points (9-for-10 FG), seven rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes of action. Ellis was almost perfect from the field and now faces a Wildcats team that he dominated just a few weeks ago. Ellis had 16 points, 12 rebounds and three assists in that game and his craftiness around the basket will make him extremely hard to cover. G Wayne Selden Jr. (9.7 PPG, 3.0 APG, 2.7 RPG) has struggled recently, scoring just nine points total in his past two games. Selden Jr. had 14 points the last time he faced Kansas State and he’ll need to attack the rim in order to draw fouls and get himself to the charity stripe. G Frank Mason Jr. (12.4 PPG, 4.4 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.3 SPG) has played very well for the Jayhawks as of late, averaging 16.0 PPG over the past two contests. He is this team’s best passer and must do a solid job of running the offense against Kansas State. He had just 10 points the last time these teams played and his shot was way off in that game (3-for-12 FG, 0-for-4 3PT). G Kelly Oubre Jr. (8.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG) had seemingly turned a corner recently, averaging 16.0 PPG and 6.5 RPG in the two games before finishing with zero against TCU. His minutes are way up lately and he’ll need to make shots in order to keep it that way. F Jamari Traylor (4.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.2 BPG) had six points, five rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes the last time he faced Kansas State. He’ll need to provide some toughness inside in this one, especially on the glass.

Kansas State is miserable on the offensive end, averaging just 62.9 PPG (287th in NCAA) on 43.4% shooting (184th in NCAA). Where they are decent is on the defensive end, as they allow just 63.6 PPG (106th in NCAA). Either way, this team is not necessarily intimidating on either end and will need to play a flawless game in order to beat Kansas on Monday. G Marcus Foster (13.4 PPG) is one of Kansas State’s best offensive weapons, but he’s averaging just 6.5 PPG over the past two contests. Foster had 19 points (7-for-18 FG, 3-for-10 3PT) and six boards in 35 minutes the last time he faced Kansas and will need to have a similar impact this time around. Foster is one of the best outside shooters on this roster (38% 3PT) and will be relied on to knock down some big shots in this game. F Nino Williams (11.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG) has gotten himself into foul trouble the past two games, picking up four fouls in both contests. He will need to be disciplined against Kansas, as he is a presence on the court and can guard multiple positions. He rebounds the ball very well for somebody his size, and must do better than the four-point, two-rebound performance he had the last time he saw Kansas. F Thomas Gipson (11.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG) will have to have a big game against Kansas on Monday if this team is going to be competitive in the final minutes. Gipson had 19 points and seven boards in 30 minutes of action versus the Jayhawks in January and the team really had trouble guarding him. He should be poised to do more of the same in front of the Wildcats fans in this one.