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Kansas vs. Kansas State Prediction, Pick & Odds: Jayhawks Favorites in Rivalry Game

Philip Wood

Last Updated: February 5, 2024 6:26 PM EST • 2 min 61 sec read.

Dorian Finister #3 of the Kansas State Wildcats celebrates as we look at our best Kansas vs. Kansas State prediction
Dorian Finister #3 of the Kansas State Wildcats celebrates after defeating the Baylor Bears in overtime. Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images via AFP.

The eighth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks are slight road favorites over the rival Kansas State Wildcats, as we're analyzing the matchup in our best Kansas vs. Kansas State prediction based on the best college basketball odds.

After beating the Houston Cougars in a top-10 showdown on Saturday, the Kansas Jayhawks hit the road Monday to face the rival Kansas State Widcats in a critical game for both clubs.

Kansas owns a strong 18-4 record this season after beating Houston but has lost three of its last four road games entering Monday. Meanwhile, Kansas State has lost four in a row with three blowout losses in that stretch, but oddsmakers are expecting a close one against its in-state rival.

In conjunction with our college basketball best bets, here is our best Kansas vs. Kansas State prediction and our college basketball picks (odds via our best March Madness betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Kansas vs. Kansas State prediction

Kansas State +4.5 ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -105 via BetMGM

BetMGM is offering a 33% boost for one college basketball bet on Monday. Don't forget to use our BetMGM bonus code!

The Jayhawks claimed one of their biggest wins of the season and are now favored by just 4.5 over a lesser Big 12 team. This is an obvious trap being set by oddsmakers.

There are a few reasons why the Wildcats are the right side in this game. First, the Jayhawks are in for a letdown game, heading on the road against an in-state rival after such a massive win. This is the Wildcats' biggest game of the season, and their crowd will be ready.

Second, the Jayhawks are a different team on the road. They’ve only played five true road games this season. They’re 2-3 in those games, and one of their wins was by just four over the Indiana Hoosiers. Meanwhile, as bad as the Wildcats have been of late, they own a 68-64 overtime home win over the Baylor Bears. They can pull a huge upset and get this Jayhawks team at the perfect time.

This is still only a three-star play because the Jayhawks are undoubtedly the better team. They’re better than the Wildcats in nearly every statistical category, and they have better players at every position. But this is a trap game for the Jayhawks, and more importantly, it’s a trap game for the public.

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Kansas vs. Kansas State best odds

BetMGM (-105)

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsbet365
+5+4.5+4.5+4.5+4.5
-115-110-105-110-110

Each of our best sports betting sites offers this spread at 4.5 except for DraftKings, which offers five. If DraftKings’ price was better than it is, we’d consider taking the extra half-point, but when BetMGM is offering -105, you have to wager there.

We expect our best sportsbooks to increase the spread to five or 5.5 before tip-off. At the moment, 72% of bettors are backing the Jayhawks. If you’re on the Wildcats, you can wait until closer to tip for a better line.

Kansas vs. Kansas State odds

Kansas vs. Kansas State odds analysis

The Jayhawks opened as 4.5-point favorites, and it’s just a matter of time before this spread grows to five or more at each of the five major sportsbooks. The majority of bettors are backing the Jayhawks, which is not surprising considering how good they looked against the Cougars on Saturday. Oddsmakers have laid a trap, but it’s one too enticing for bettors to pass on.

The total for this game opened at 144.5, and it has increased at our best sports betting apps, except for FanDuel. Both teams are averaging over 70 points per game, with each defense allowing around 68 per contest. The Jayhawks have scored at least 74 in seven consecutive games, and they’ve allowed at least 65 in their last four road games. Because of that, this number should continue to increase.

Kansas vs. Kansas State game info

  • When: Monday, Feb. 5 at 9 p.m. ET
  • Where: Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, KS
  • How to watch: ESPN

Kansas vs. Kansas State prediction made Monday at 9:13 a.m. ET.

Here are our best March Madness betting sites:

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Written By:
Philip Wood
Phil is a Sports Betting Analyst for Sportsbook Review and BettingPros.com, specializing in NFL and college football. He previously covered college football and college basketball for CanesInsight.com, where he also hosted the College Football Pick 'Em podcast. Phil is always looking for value, especially on lines that just seem too good to be true. His belief is if a line doesn't make sense, just assume that Vegas knows something you don't. An alumnus of The U, Phil always holds out hope that the next head coach will be the one who turns the football program around. Some would call him a frontrunner for his love of the Yankees and the Celtics, but he's also a diehard Detroit Lions fan and will never forgive the refs for the blown pass interference call against the Cowboys in 2015.