Fresno State vs. Kansas Early Odds, Picks & Prediction for Week 0: Aug. 23

Kansas will look to start hot with a Week 0 contest against Fresno State as the Jayhawks look to move on from a disappointing season. My Fresno State vs. Kansas early odds and picks will help you jump on early lines that can be beneficial in college football. 

Kickoff for Saturday's game from David Booth Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kan., is set for 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX). Follow along with our College Football Week 0 predictions to avoid missing out on opportunities that last until the weekend.

📈Fresno State vs. Kansas early odds

See the college football odds from our best college football betting sites for every college football bowl game.

Fresno State vs. Kansas early odds

• Moneyline: Kansas -500
• Spread: Kansas -12.5
• Over/Under: 50.5

Fresno State vs. Kansas odds analysis

After opening at a spread of 14.5, the Fresno State vs. Kansas college football odds have moved slightly in the Bulldogs’ direction, as the road team is now a 12.5-point underdog. Two points may not seem like much, but that’s enough to get us under the key numbers of 14 and 13.

Bettors have become marginally friendlier toward the road team with Fresno State announcing that E.J. Warner, son of NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, will start in Week 0. Kansas will continue to trot out Jalon Daniels, who has been a part of the program since 2020.

💰 Best Fresno State vs. Kansas early prediction: Week 0

🔎 College football picks made Saturday; odds subject to change. Our NEW college football player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

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✅ Prediction: Kansas -12.5 ⭐⭐

📊 Best odds: -110 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.38%

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When making our Fresno State vs. Kansas early predictions, it’s impossible to ignore how unremarkable new Fresno State quarterback E.J. Warner has been.

The journeyman quarterback led the American in interceptions in the last three seasons. The gunslinger’s risk tolerance has helped his team score some wins, but last year saw him record a career-worst passing efficiency rating of 120.7.

Jalon Daniels wasn’t any better at avoiding interceptions last year, as he led the Big 12 in them, but that marked a career-worst performance. Daniels sports a career passing efficiency rating of 137.7, much better than Warner’s 124.6, all while averaging 28.1 rushing yards per game. Warner, not unlike his father, lacks that degree of athleticism. He averages negative rushing yards per game due to sack yardage.

Kansas head coach Lance Leipold hasn’t turned this team into a juggernaut, but after a shaky first few years, his Jayhawks are 14-11 against the spread since 2023 - and 9-4 at home. New Fresno State head coach Matt Entz did a lot of things right at North Dakota State, but trotting out Warner and a “gritty” roster probably won’t be enough to keep this within the current number.

When Daniels opened at home last year, the Jayhawks throttled FCS Lindenwood by 45. The year before, Daniels made his first start in Week 2 and sank Illinois by 11, and in 2023, he opened the year with a 46-point win over FCS Tennessee Tech. Fresno State could bounce back in 2025, but probably not against the experienced tandem of Daniels and Leipold. 

Our Rob Paul breaks down why he likes this side as well in his college football Week 0 ATS picks.  

🚑 Fresno State vs. Kansas injuries to watch

📈 Fresno State vs. Kansas betting insights

Here are some betting insights from our best sports betting sites on Thursday morning

• The spread opened at Kansas -14.5 but is regularly trading at -12.5
• The moneyline still shows a wide spread on either side of the opening line of -550, trading as long as -590 and as short as -455
• The total opened at 52.5 but has been bet down to 50.5

📺 How to watch Fresno State vs. Kansas

• When: Saturday, Aug. 23
• Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET
• Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium (Lawrence, Kan.)
• How to watch: FOX
• Weather: 83 degrees, 55% chance of precipitation, wind 11 mph NW
• Favorite: Kansas (-500 via BetMGM)

💡 Expert Week 0 college football early picks

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