Missouri vs. Kansas Prediction & Odds: College Basketball Betting Preview for Dec. 7

My Missouri vs. Kansas prediction breaks down this hardwood version of the Border War rivalry, which will tip at a neutral site at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., at 1 p.m. ET (ESPN2).

No. 21 Kansas is a 6.5-point betting favorite, but I am not overlooking the underdog Tigers despite what appears to be an underwhelming nonconference schedule at the moment.

✅ Missouri vs. Kansas predictions

🏀 Missouri vs. Kansas best bet & score prediction

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Missouri +6.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐

Missouri is the 21st-oldest team in the country in terms of average D-I experience, and it returned nearly 34% of the minutes from last year’s team that beat Kansas 76-67 on its home court. Given all of that, I will not overlook the Tigers in this matchup despite them not having beaten a team ranked inside KenPom’s top 100 yet this year.

The Darryn Peterson rust factor

Kansas star freshman Darryn Peterson is playing in his first game after sitting out the previous seven with a hamstring injury, but I do not expect him to be his former self right away after such a long layoff.

With a healthy Peterson, Kansas has an offensive rating of 129, an effective field-goal percentage of 60.3%, and shot 38.5% from 3-point range. Leading up to the Players Era Festival without Peterson, Kansas’ offensive rating dropped to 109, along with a 52.9% effective field-goal percentage and 26.2% 3-point percentage.

Kansas treaded water well without Peterson, going 3-1 since the start of the Players Era Festival, with the only loss coming in a game it held UConn to 61 points. But despite not losing any of its three games in Las Vegas, I am not getting overly excited about the first two wins against Notre Dame and Syracuse, two teams ranked outside KenPom’s top 60.

Missouri entered its last game leading the country with six wins by at least 20 points and had ranked 11th nationally with a plus-24.8 scoring margin. The Tigers have bullied opponents inside, ranking in the top five of all D-I teams in 2-point shooting and effective field-goal percentage.

I am backing the Tigers with three stars of confidence, as they are 10-6 ATS against ranked opponents under head coach Dennis Gates since 2023.

Caesars is the only one of our best sports betting sites charging the standard -110 juice at 52.38% implied odds to back the Tigers at +6.5, as all other competing sportsbooks are at least at -115. A $10 winning wager at the -110 price would net $9.09 in profits.

Score prediction: Kansas 77, Missouri 73

🆚 Missouri vs. Kansas matchup to watch

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Mark Mitchell vs. Kansas' frontcourt

Missouri entered its last game with 10 of its 12 players scoring in double figures at one point. But a lot of that scoring balance was due to playing inferior opponents, and I expect the team to rely on its experienced senior leader in this matchup.

Prior to scoring 32% of his team’s points (26 of 71) in a loss at Notre Dame, Missouri forward Mark Mitchell was one of 10 players in the country averaging 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists, but the only one to do so while shooting better than 60% from the field.

He scored 17 points on an inefficient 4-of-14 shooting in the win over Kansas last year but bullied the Jayhawks inside while getting to the free-throw line 12 times (that tied for his third-highest total free-throw attempts of the season).

Best prop bet: Mark Mitchell Over 16.5 points (-120 via bet365)

📊 Missouri vs. Kansas odds

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📺 How to watch Missouri vs. Kansas

• Date: Sunday, Dec. 7
• Tipoff: 1 p.m. ET
• Location: T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, Mo.)
• TV: ESPN2