Kansas at UCF odds, picks and predictions
The Kansas Jayhawks (13-1, 1-0 Big 12) and UCF Knights (9-4, 0-1) meet Wednesday at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Kansas vs. UCF odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The Jayhawks have racked up 9 consecutive victories since their lone setback of the season to then-No. 5 Marquette in the Maui Invitational Nov. 21. While KU has been ticking off wins, it hasn't been as fortunate against the number, going just 1-5 against the spread (ATS) in the past 6 games, and 3-9 ATS in the past 12 outings overall.
The Knights lost the program's first Big 12 game Saturday -- as it's their inaugural season in the conference -- falling 77-52 at Kansas State as 5-point underdogs with the Under (140) cashing. The loss snapped a 3-game win streak for UCF, which has alternated non-covers and covers in each of the past 6 games. The Under is 4-1 in the Knights' past 5 games overall.
Kansas is No. 3 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll. The Jayhawks have a chance to be No. 1 in the next poll as the top-2 teams -- Purdue and Houston -- lost Tuesday.
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Kansas at UCF odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:56 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Kansas -285 (bet $285 to win $100) | UCF +230 (bet $100 to win $230)
- Against the spread (ATS): Kansas -6.5 (-114) | UCF +6.5 (-106)
- Over/Under (O/U): 143.5 (O: -106 | U: -114)
Kansas at UCF picks and predictions
Prediction
Kansas 75, UCF 66
Moneyline
Kansas (-285) will cost nearly 3 times the potential return. While it seems like a good possibility the historic Jayhawks will win on the road against a team playing its initial Big 12 home game, it isn't a certainty.
If we learned anything from Tuesday's road losses by No. 1 Purdue and No. 2 Houston, league play away from home can be treacherous, even for the best teams in the nation.
PASS.
Against the spread
KANSAS -6.5 (-114) is the play, regardless of the Tuesday night upsets.
UCF is coming off a 25-point spanking from K-State as the Wildcats gave the Knights a rude welcome to the Big 12. KU is likely to follow suit, even though this game is in Orlando.
The Knights are just 2-2 against the spread (ATS) in the past 4 games at home, including a loss and non-cover in its only previous home game against a Power 6 conference team Dec. 10 in a loss to Ole Miss.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Over/Under
UNDER 143.5 (-114) is worth playing lightly in this league game.
While the total has gone high in the past 2 games for Kansas, the Under is 8-3 in the past 11 games overall for Rock Chalk. In addition, the Under cashed in the only true road game for Kansas this season, while the total has gone low in 3 of 4 neutral floor games.
For the Knights, the Under has hit in 4 of the past 5 games, including its only game inside the Big 12 as UCF scored a season-low 52 points Saturday.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from Paste BN Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin /
College Sports Wire: Men's hoops / Women's hoops / High School