Kansas Favored Over Cal Baptist in NCAA Tournament Opener

Jayhawks open as double-digit favorites against Lancers in Round of 64 matchup

Mar. 17, 2026 at 9:49am

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The No. 4 seed Kansas Jayhawks are significant betting favorites over the No. 13 seed Cal Baptist Lancers in their first-round NCAA Tournament matchup. Kansas opened as a 14.5-point favorite, with the Jayhawks' moneyline at -1250 and the over/under set at 137.5 points. This marks the ninth time this season that Kansas has been a double-digit favorite, going 7-0 in those games and covering the spread in five of seven. Cal Baptist is making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after upsetting Utah Valley in the WAC championship game.

Why it matters

Kansas has historically dominated the Round of 64 under head coach Bill Self, holding an impressive 23-3 record in first-round NCAA Tournament games. The Jayhawks are expected to continue that success against the upstart Lancers, who will be playing in their first-ever Big Dance. However, Cal Baptist is led by the WAC's leading scorer, Dominique Daniels Jr., who could keep the game within reach for the underdog.

The details

The Jayhawks are favored by 14.5 points over the Lancers, with Kansas' moneyline at -1250 and the over/under set at 137.5 points. Kansas has been a double-digit favorite nine times this season, going 7-0 in those games and covering the spread in five of seven. Cal Baptist's only Quad 1 game this year was a 91-60 loss to BYU in December, but the Lancers are led by the WAC's leading scorer, Dominique Daniels Jr., who could keep the game close.

  • The NCAA Tournament's first-round matchups were announced on Selection Sunday.
  • The Jayhawks and Lancers will face off on Friday in the Round of 64.

The players

Bill Self

The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, who has dominated the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament, holding an impressive 23-3 record in first-round games.

Dominique Daniels Jr.

The leading scorer in the WAC, who will be tasked with keeping the Cal Baptist Lancers within reach of the heavily-favored Kansas Jayhawks.

Rick Croy

The head coach of the Cal Baptist Lancers, who led his team to a 25-8 record and a WAC championship to earn the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

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What’s next

The winner of the Kansas-Cal Baptist matchup will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament to face the winner of the game between the No. 5 seed and the No. 12 seed in that region.

The takeaway

While Kansas is heavily favored and has a strong history of success in the Round of 64, Cal Baptist's leading scorer Dominique Daniels Jr. could keep the game within reach for the underdog Lancers. March Madness is known for its unpredictability, and any team is capable of pulling off an upset, making this first-round matchup one to watch closely.