Kansas vs. Kansas State Picks, Predictions, Odds

The first Sunflower Showdown of the 2022-23 college basketball season will take place on Tuesday night when the Kansas State Wildcats welcome the Kansas Jayhawks to the Little Apple. Kansas has won 15 out of the last 16 games in this rivalry, but Kansas State has some big wins to its credit already this season. The Wildcats have five wins over teams ranked in Ken Pomeroy's top 50 nationally, and they scored a school record 116 points in regulation in their win over the Texas Longhorns two weeks ago.

Two of the top teams in the Big 12 will face off when the Kansas Jayhawks meet their in-state rivals, the Kansas State Wildcats. This game will be played on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 from Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Kansas Jayhawks vs. Kansas State Wildcats Betting Prediction

Frank Martin and Bruce Weber each had initial success with the Kansas State Wildcats, helping turn around a program that had been underwater since the departure of Lon Kruger. However, the team parted ways with Weber after he failed to post a winning record for three straight seasons and went 13-41 in Big 12 play during that stretch.

They hired long-time Baylor assistant Jerome Tang to replace Weber, and Tang has immediately infused new life into this program. Kansas State is ranked No. 13 after getting out to a 15-2 start, and the Wildcats will be ready to take it to the defending national champions given how thoroughly the Kansas Jayhawks have dominated them in recent years.

Score Prediction: Kansas State 79 Kansas 72
Best Bet: Kansas State +112

Updated on 04/25/2024

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Kansas Jayhawks vs. Kansas State Wildcats Betting Odds

Kansas Jayhawks vs. Kansas State Wildcats Betting Resources

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023
TV-Time: ESPN, 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Bramlage Coliseum
Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Matchup
Expert Picks

Big 12 Championship Odds

Kansas Jayhawks vs. Kansas State Wildcats Betting Stats

Kansas Jayhawks
SU: 16-1
ATS: 7-10
O/U: 9-7-1
PPG: 76.9
OPPG: 65.2

Kansas State Wildcats
SU: 15-2
ATS: 12-5
O/U: 10-7
PPG: 78.2
OPPG: 67.2

Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS), Over-Under (O/U)
Points Per Game (PPG), Opponents Points Per Game (OPPG)

Kansas Jayhawks Betting Analysis

Junior Jalen Wilson has been one of the top players in the country through the first half of the season. Wilson is in his fourth year at Kansas and has had time to develop, and he is now the go-to guy for the Jayhawks. The 6'8 forward is averaging 19.8 PPG and 8.9 RPG, but his efficiency has left something to be desired. Wilson is making just 40.4% of his field goals and 33% of his threes on the season.

Kansas has a potential lottery pick in freshman guard Gradey Dick. Although he might not be able to play guard at the next level, he can use his size to create offensive mismatches. Dick is averaging 14.6 PPG as the second-leading scorer on Kansas behind Wilson, and he has been very efficient. He is knocking down 46.7% of his field goals and 48% of his threes while pulling down 5.2 RPG.

This is the seventh ranked team in the country according to Ken Pomeroy. Texas Tech transfer Kevin McCullar Jr. has been huge on the defensive end, helping the Jayhawks in tough games. McCullar is averaging 10.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 2.7 SPG. His on-the-ball defense is excellent as he ranks 18th nationally in steal percentage, and he is routinely asked to guard the opposing team's best player. K.J. Adams Jr. and Dajuan Harris Jr. round out the starting five, and they will need to play well because Bill Self knows that his team doesn't have much of a bench. No one else on Kansas averages more than 4.0 PPG.

Kansas State Wildcats Betting Analysis

Former Little Rock guard Markquis Nowell is one of the most exciting players in the country. Nowell is only 5'8, but he plays above his size and is a big part of why Kansas State is 15-2 at this point. He is the second-leading scorer on the Wildcats, averaging 17.1 PPG, and he has continually proven that he can get quality shots off despite his size. Nowell is making 41.7% of his field goals and 38.3% of his threes, and he is one of the top free throw shooters in the country. What makes him really special is his ability to set up his teammates though, and he is currently second in the nation in assists with 8.5 APG.

Florida transfer Keyontae Johnson barely played the last two seasons due to injury, but he is showing why he was considered a talented young underclassmen at the start of his collegiate career. Johnson leads Kansas State with 18.4 PPG and 7.1 RPG, and the 6'6 senior has been very efficient from the field. Currently, he is making 56.4% of his field goals and 38.5% of his threes.

Kansas State has a little more depth than Kansas, and we will see the Wildcats rotate through more bodies. Nae'Qwan Tomlin will be one of the most important players to watch here because of his size and ability to control the glass. We could see more of Ismael Massoud then usual too since he is a 6'9 wing that can stretch the defense with his perimeter shooting.