Michigan State Spartans vs. Kansas Jayhawks Odds, March Madness Betting Pick

No. 1 Kansas is 24-6 in its last 30 games against members of the Big Ten. No. 9 Michigan State is 12-4 its last 16 times out against the Big 12. Two teams with a combined 48 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances meet when the Jayhawks battle the Spartans in a second-round tilt Sunday afternoon in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Point spread: The Jayhawks opened as 8.5-point favorites; the total is at 147.5, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)

March Madness betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 73.8-68.7 Jayhawks (College basketball picks on every game)

Why Michigan State can cover the spread

MSU advanced to Sunday's play by mugging Miami on Friday, 78-58. The Spartans actually trailed the Hurricanes out of the gate, 17-5, then went on a 28-6 run and led by 11 at halftime. Michigan State then used an 8-2 spurt out of the locker room to take total control and cruised from there.

The Spartans shot 56.6 percent from the floor, while holding Miami to just 40.4 percent shooting, and out-rebounded the Hurricanes 36-23.

Coming into this NCAA tournament, Michigan State had lost three of its previous four games. But it sure looked like one of those late-season Spartans teams we're all familiar with on Friday.

MSU is now 8-9 straight up and 9-8 against the spread this season versus teams that made the Big Dance.

Why Kansas can cover the spread

Kansas reached the second round of the tournament by dispatching of UC Davis on Friday, 100-62. The Jayhawks, favored by 22.5 points, were tied with the Aggies midway through the first half, then used a 22-2 run to create space. A 50-point second half then secured the cash.

On the evening, Kansas shot 56.3 percent from the field, went 11-of-25 from three-point land, held UC Davis to just 33.9 percent shooting and won the battle on the glass, 45-27.

The Jayhawks were coming off a shockingly early exit from the Big 12 tournament after getting upset by TCU. But they had ended the regular season with an eight-game winning streak.

Kansas is now 11-2 SU and 7-6 ATS against teams that made the NCAA tournament this season.

Smart betting pick

These teams have actually met three times in the last five seasons; Kansas was favored for all three meetings, but Michigan State pulled off two upsets. And while most of the names have changed since they last met, the smart money here still sides with the Spartans.

March Madness betting trends

Michigan State is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games against Kansas.

The total has gone under in four of Michigan State's last five games against Kansas.

Kansas is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games.

All college basketball lines and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, OddsShark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and the OddsShark YouTube page for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.