Big 12 Tournament final from Kansas City. KU hasn't missed Bill Self yet with back-to-back dominant wins and has a chance for almost immediate payback on the Horns after losing 75-59 in Austin last Saturday. Two big differences today: The location and Texas is without center Timmy Allen due to injury. He had six points, six rebounds, three assists and a block in that game and is averaging 10.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 3.2 apg on the season. UT hasn't missed him much yet, but UT's first two games of this event were in front of a lot of empty seats (and lesser opponents to KU). Won't be the case tonight.

Texas has won its last three, including a win against Kansas to close out the regular season, and the Longhorns have covered in their last four. But Kansas has put it all together at the right time. Before losing to Texas, the Jayhawks had won seven straight. I couldn’t trust Kansas for most of the season, but now they’re executing a game plan staying Under in their last six and covering nine of their last 13 games. I’m on Kansas to win and cover.

Texas is dealing with a key injury for the Big-12 final. The Longhorns Timmy Allen is questionable with a lower leg injury, he did not play in the semi’s last night against TCU. Kansas is still without HC Bill Self for the game as well. However, the Jayhawks are on a mission for their coach. Kansas is shooting 54.8 percent from floor and 32.8 percent from beyond the arc over their last three games. Texas is shooting 48.2 percent from the floor and 27.3 percent from three during that span as well. In one of those three games, the Jayhawks were embarrassed at Texas losing by 16 points and will want to bounce back after that defeat and capture the Big-12 title for their coach. I’m on Kansas.

Both of these teams have slowed down the pace and locked in defensively as we reach the most important time of the year. The under has hit in each of the last 4 Texas games, including the regular season finale against Kansas, and the under has hit in each of the last six games for the Jayhawks. Throw in the fact that this is the third game in three days for both teams and both coaching staffs know that there are bigger fish to fry in March beyond the Big 12 Tournament. A lower scoring title game, one that focuses on hard-fought half court execution, sends this game under the total.