Samford vs. Kansas Prediction & March Madness Odds: Campbell to Take Advantage of Injuries?

Jamari McDowell #11 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates after scoring as we look at our best Samford vs. Kansas March Madness prediction — Jamari McDowell #11 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates after scoring during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats on March 13, 2024. Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images via AFP.

The Kansas Jayhawks enter the NCAA Tournament opening round with a shaky start as they aim to secure a victory against the underdog Samford Bulldogs. We are here to provide you with our top prediction for the Samford vs. Kansas matchup, taking into account the latest March Madness odds.

The Samford Bulldogs, seeded 13th, secured their first March Madness appearance in 24 years by clinching the Southern Conference’s automatic bid. They boast a 29-5 record, including a 15-3 conference mark. The Bulldogs are recognized for their high-scoring offense, averaging 86.0 points per game, which ranks fifth in Division I. Their playing style, known as “Bucky Ball,” pays homage to head coach Bucky McMillan.

Despite a late-season stumble with four losses in their last five games, the No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks (22-10) managed to secure a top-four seed for their 23rd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The team’s reliance on their starting lineup for scoring is clear, as their bench only adds 11.9 points per game, ranking them 336th in the nation.

As we make our March Madness predictions, we are offering our top pick for the Samford vs. Kansas game and college basketball selections. Our odds are sourced from the top March Madness betting sites, and our level of confidence in each pick is rated on a 1 to 5-star scale.

Samford vs. Kansas odds

Prediction for the Midwest Region matchup between Samford and Kansas: Samford is the 13th seed while Kansas is the 4th seed.

Jaden Campbell is projected to score over 10.5 points with a three-star rating.

Top odds: -120 on DraftKings and bet365.

Standing at 6-foot-5, Samford’s Jaden Campbell is a wing player who is ranked in the top 20 nationally in KenPom’s offensive rating metric. Kansas would usually have Kevin McCullar, one of the best on-ball defenders in the country, to guard him. However, McCullar has missed three of the last six games and was absent during Kansas’ loss to Cincinnati in the Big 12 Tournament due to a knee injury.

Jayhawks head coach Bill Self mentioned that fellow injured star Hunter Dickinson has been participating in non-contact drills, but expressed doubt about Kevin’s performance. If McCullar is unable to play in the NCAA Tournament opener, betting on Campbell’s points to go over would be a strong four-star play.

Campbell has scored in double figures in consecutive games and four out of the last six. He is an excellent 3-point shooter, sinking 27 of his last 49 attempts (55.1%) over the past 12 games. With Samford playing at a fast pace all season, Campbell will have many chances to contribute against the Jayhawks’ thin roster.

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The odds are in favor of Samford against Kansas.

DraftKings, bet365 (-120)

DraftKings	FanDuel	BetMGM	Caesars	bet365
Campbell Over 10.5 points	Campbell Over 10.5 points	N/A	N/A	Campbell Over 10.5 points
-120	-122	N/A	N/A	-120

At present, only three top sports betting sites provide player props for the Samford-Kansas game, with minimal variations between them. Placing a $10 bet at DraftKings or bet365’s -120 odds would yield $18.33, while FanDuel’s -122 odds would result in a slightly lower return of $18.20.

Achor Achor, the center for Samford, is expected to have popular player prop odds due to his All-Southern Conference First Team honors. However, we suggest looking at Campbell’s props as a more under-the-radar play, especially since he is likely to be involved in Samford’s 3-point shooting strategy.

Analysis of the Samford vs. Kansas spread and Over/Under

Our top sports betting apps all have Kansas as 7.5-point favorites against Samford. The line has shifted in favor of Samford, with most sportsbooks initially opening with the Jayhawks as 8.5-point favorites. BetRivers briefly reached -9.5, but quickly dropped back down to -7 due to a surge in bets on the underdog. Currently, 70% of early wagers are on Samford, supporting the line movement.

Although our top sportsbooks agree on the point spread, there is a notable difference in their total predictions. There is a 1.5-point difference between the lowest total prediction of 152.5 (BetMGM) and the highest at 154 (BetRivers). The Over is likely receiving attention from sharp bettors, as early betting shows an 82/18 split in favor of the Under. Despite this, all sportsbooks have raised their total predictions from initial numbers ranging from 149.5 to 151.5.

Information on the game between Samford and Kansas

When: Thursday, March 21
Start time: 9:55 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah
How to watch: TBS

Prediction for Samford vs. Kansas made on Monday at 7:36 p.m. Eastern Time.

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Written By:
Allen Byron

Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he’s especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike’s a big advocate of “fading the public” and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that “there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas.” When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He’s tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”