Kansas gets a shot at a little revenge when it hosts in-state rival Kansas State for a big Big 12 bout Tuesday night in Lawrence. The Jayhawks fell to the Wildcats in the first meeting between these teams this season in overtime, the first of three straight defeats for the defending national champs. Kansas State, meanwhile, is off to its best start to a season in 40 years. Kansas is favored by a touchdown plus for this one. Who do we like for our free KSU/KAN pick?
Kansas State-Kansas Betting Odds
Tuesday’s college basketball betting lines opened Kansas as a seven-point favorite over K State, over/under of right around 146.5. Early betting action edged the Jayhawks to -7.5. According to Sagarin’s CBB ratings KU should be favored by six points for this match-up.
Kansas State-Kansas College Basketball Betting Preview
The Wildcats are 3-1 SU, 4-0 ATS over their last four games after beating Florida in a Big 12/SEC Challenge game Saturday 64-50. Kansas State scored the first five points of the game and used a later 11-0 run to lead 37-16 at the half. The Wildcats then never allowed the Gators to get closer than 11 from there, on their way to the victory and the easy cover at -4. K State only shot 38 percent from the floor Saturday but held Florida to just 31 percent shooting and out-rebounded the Gators 49-36. Two games ago, the Wildcats lost at Iowa State 80-76 but covered at +5.5. Three games ago, they beat Texas Tech 68-58 and covered at -3.5. And four games ago, Kansas State beat Kansas 83-82 in OT. At 6-2 in Big 12 play, the Wildcats are tied for first place with ISU and Texas. Kansas, meanwhile, just snapped a three-game losing skid with a 77-68 Challenge victory at Kentucky last Saturday. The Jayhawks trailed 9-4 early but battled back to lead 41-34 at the half. KU then never trailed in the second half, allowing the Wildcats to get within a bucket six times but responding each time, and held on for the outright win as a three-point underdog. The Jayhawks shot 49 percent from the floor Saturday, as did Kentucky. But Kansas also won the battle on the glass 34-29. Prior to that win, KU lost three straight games. It started with that overtime loss to Kansas State; then the Jayhawks got blown out at home by TCU 83-60; then they lost at Baylor 75-69. At the moment those three teams are ranked No. 7, 15, and 11 in the AP poll. In fact, Sagarin ranks KU’s schedule as the toughest – No. 1 – in college basketball so far this season. At 5-3 in Big 12 action, Kansas is tied for fourth place with TCU and Baylor.
- Get more details: Kansas State at Kansas 1/31/23 Betting Stats
Kansas State-Kansas Recent History
The Jayhawks beat the Wildcats seven times in a row from 2019 through last season, but K State won the first meeting between these teams this season two weeks ago 83-82 in overtime. The Wildcats led that game by 14 in the first half, trailed by a point with two minutes to go, then won it with a late alley-oop in extra time. That game was Under its total of 148 through regulation, tied at 72-72, then played over in OT.
Common Opponents
These teams have played six common opponents so far this season; Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, and West Virginia. The Wildcats played those foes to 4-2 SU, 5-1 ATS, and +1 point per game, the Jayhawks to 4-2 SU, 2-4 ATS, and also +1 PPG.
College Basketball Betting Trends
Kansas State is 4-2 ATS this season as an underdog.
Totals Report
- The Overs are 12-9 in Wildcats games this season, averaging 144 total points.
- The Overs are also 12-9 in Jayhawks games this season, which are averaging 143 points.
