The Kansas Jayhawks lost three games during the final month of the regular season and took a tumble down the AP Top 25 rankings, settling into the No. 9 spot with one matchup left on their schedule before the Big 12 Conference Tournament rolls around. Kansas clinched its regular-season title with a home victory over West Virginia, but the accomplishment wasn't without a cost as forward Perry Ellis, the team's leading scorer, suffered a knee sprain late in the first half, and is expected to miss a week.

Coach Bill Self told the media that he wasn't not too concerned about Ellis' knee and that "it wasn't anything too serious". Let's take a closer look at Kansas' national title odds with predictions and analysis. All odds come from Sportsbook.ag.

2015 Kansas Jayhawks National Title Storylines

Despite Kansas's three losses in February, the Jayhawks were still able to win their 11^th consecutive Big 12 title even though they needed to make a second-half comeback without Ellis to do so. The team trailed by as much as 18 points during the game and went into the half down by 14. Freshmen guard Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed with three huge buckets to spark the comeback, and he has been a solid addition to the team this season, averaging nearly nine points and five rebounds per game.

While Kansas has a storied history in the NCAA Tournament, having won a national title to go along with another Championship Game appearance over the last seven seasons, Self and his squad believe they let another deep postseason run slip through their fingers with last year's early tournament exit. Ellis and the few returning players from that squad will be looking for a bit of redemption heading into March.

2015 Kansas Jayhawks National Title Odds and ATS Trends

Kansas is currently receiving the seventh-best national title odds at +2000, according to Sportsbook.ag. The team's line might get even better if Ellis does not return in time for the Big 12 Tournament and the Jayhawks suffer an early exit. A No. 3 is probably what this group is looking at, but with a championship-level coaching staff and a few players with postseason experience, that might not be a bad thing for bettors.

Kansas currently has a 15-13-1 ATS record with an 8-5-1 and 4-6 home-and-road split. The team is also 15-12-1 against its totals and has gone "over" in nine of 13 home matchups. The Jayhawks, however, are on a five-game ATS losing streak and have not covered a spread since Valentine's Day.

2015 Kansas Jayhawks National Title Odds and Predictions

Kansas may not be a Top 5-ranked team this season, but the organization is a power school with loads of tournament and national title experience. The Jayhawks are simple one of those teams that makes deep tournament runs and wins national titles. A few other schools, like the Gonzagas of the world, might have better records and odds, yet they are still not realistic title contenders.

Coach Self knows how to win, which can go a long way in a single-elimination tournament. Now, that is not to say there is great value at +2000, because Kansas is simply not as talented as in years past, but the team has a championship-level coaching staff and a deep postseason run would not be shocking.

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