Kansas State vs. Kansas Picks, Predictions, Odds

The first game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas State Wildcats this season was one of the best games so far in Big 12 play. Regulation couldn't determine a victor, so the two teams went into overtime tied at 72.

Kansas State lived at the free throw line in the extra frame, scoring nine of its 11 points from the charity stripe, but Keyontae Johnson slammed in the Wildcats' lone field goal with 24 seconds to play to give his team the win. The Jayhawks will look to avenge that loss in the rematch between these teams two weeks later.

On Tuesday, January 31, 2023, the Kansas Jayhawks will host the Kansas State Wildcats in the second Sunflower State Showdown. Kansas State is trying to sweep the season series for the first time since 1989, and this game will tip off from Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and the Big 12 Network.

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Kansas Jayhawks Betting Prediction

Although the Kansas State Wildcats emerged victorious in the Little Apple two weeks ago, the Kansas Jayhawks are a moderate favorite by the college basketball betting odds. Kansas is favored by seven points as of Monday night, and that number could rise closer to tip off as Kansas has only lost one home game all season.

The defending national champions got back on track with a win over the Kentucky Wildcats last week to stop a three-game losing streak, and I think the Jayhawks will deal these Wildcats a convincing defeat too.

Score Prediction: Kansas 79, Kansas State 69
Best Bet: Kansas -6.5

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Kansas Jayhawks Betting Odds

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Kansas Jayhawks Betting Resources

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023
TV-Time: ESPN+, 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Allen Fieldhouse
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Matchup
Expert Picks

Big 12 Championship Odds

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Kansas Jayhawks Betting Stats

Kansas State Wildcats
SU: 18-3
ATS: 15-6
O/U: 12-9
PPG: 77.1
OPPG: 67.3

Kansas Jayhawks
SU: 17-4
ATS: 8-13
O/U: 12-9
PPG: 76.0
OPPG: 67.5

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

Kansas Jayhawks Betting Analysis

Jalen Wilson had one of his best performances of the season in the first game between these two teams. Kansas' leading scorer, and one of the top players in the country, hit 12 of 25 field goals and was 11 of 12 from the free throw line to finish with 38 points and nine rebounds. Fellow forward K.J. Adams Jr. made all six of his shots and finished with 17 points, but the rest of the Jayhawks combined to make 27.6% of their shots. To make matters worse, Kansas had three of its five starters foul out as Gradey Dick, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Adams all picked up five fouls. That forced Joseph Yesufu to play for 22 minutes, and he did not perform well.

Kansas shouldn't have the same foul trouble to deal with at home. This is a team that can ill afford too many fouls considering there is little depth outside of the starting five. The Jayhawks probably will shoot better from the floor too after everyone aside from Wilson and Adams struggled in the first game between these rivals.

Other than Wilson, one of the most important players to watch is Dajuan Harris Jr. He had 11 assists in the first game, and he is averaging 6.5 APG. Harris and Dick are normally excellent three-point shooters with both players hitting over 42% from beyond the arc on the year, but they combined to go 2-14 from beyond the arc against Kansas State two weeks ago.

Kansas State Wildcats Betting Analysis

Keyontae Johnson wasn't at his best against his former team over the weekend. Kansas State cruised to a 14-point victory over Florida, but Johnson had just 13 points as he was 5-16 from the floor. The Wildcats will need him to be much better if they are going to pull off the upset, and he did go off for 24 points against Kansas two weeks ago. He has notched a double-double in three straight games.

The other star for Kansas State is Markquis Nowell. He had one of his worst outings of the season when these teams met two weeks ago. Nowell is averaging 16.9 PPG this season, but he finished with just four points on 2-8 shooting against the Jayhawks. Kansas' tall guards swallowed him up and kept him from being an effective shooter, yet he did finish with seven assists and four steals.

Nae'Qwan Tomlin is the only person on Kansas State averaging more than 10 PPG aside from Johnson and Nowell. Tomlin had 15 points and 10 rebounds in a solid effort two weeks ago, and that's the type of performance the Wildcats need if they to pull off the upset. He is not a good three-point shooter, and that's a big problem for Kansas State as a team.