Kansas Jayhawks vs. Kansas State Wildcats Prediction, Odds, Line, Spread, and Picks

The Kansas Jayhawks (6-5) and the (#12) Kansas State Wildcats (8-3) will battle for the Governor's Cup in the 120th meeting of the football version of the Sunflower Showdown. Kansas leads the all-time series 65-49-5, with Kansas State winning thirteen straight dating back to 2009.

The Jayhawks are 1-5 since starting the season 4-0, most recently getting blown out at home against the Texas Longhorns 55-14. Quarterback Jalon Daniels returned to the lineup after missing the previous month and a half with an injury but only went 17-of-26 for 230 yards and two scores with a pick. The KU rushing attack was mainly held in check, with lead back Devin Neal being contained for 51 yards on 13 carries. Texas jumped to a 41-0 lead midway through the third quarter, and RB Bijan Robinson went for 243 yards and four scores.

Kansas vs. Kansas State Betting Odds

Team	Spread	Over/Under	Moneyline
KU Jayhawks	+11.5	062	+330
K-State Wildcats	-11.5	u62	-435

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K-State returns home after winning back-to-back road games. They most recently triumphed over the West Virginia Mountaineers 48-31. Junior quarterback Will Howard, who took over for the injured Adrian Martinez in Week 11, finished 19-of-27 for 294 yards and two scores against an interception. Star RB Deuce Vaughn struggled in the win, rushing 22 times for only 67 yards. K-State could clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game alongside TCU with a win against KU or a loss by Texas on Friday.

Tale of the Tape

With a win on Saturday, KU will finish with a record of .500 or better for the first time since 2008. They will also be bowl eligible for the first time since that same season. The Jayhawks have gotten great production from their quarterback position, with Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean combining for 27 touchdowns against seven interceptions. They are top in the Big 12 with 2.5 passing touchdowns per game. The rushing attack is also electric, with a conference-best of 5.8 yards per attempt. Overall, the Jayhawks' offense averages 7.2 yards per play at 436.5 yards per game.

The Jayhawks have one of the most efficient offenses in the conference but one of the most ineffective defenses. The secondary allows a league-worst 65.3% of passes to be completed for 262 yards per game. The Jayhawks didn't fare any better against the run. They are tied with Oklahoma for the worst defensive unit in the Big 12 regarding rushing yards allowed (190.4) and yards per rush (4.5).

K-State can reach double-digit wins for the first time since the Collin Klein era. Chris Klieman, the former North Dakota State head coach, took over for long-time frontman Bill Snyder in 2019 and is in the midst of his best season in Manhattan, Kansas. Dual-threat quarterback Adrian Martinez, who transferred in from Nebraska, has been ruled out for the game against KU. He has totaled 16 touchdowns against one pick in the year. Will Howard has been excellent in relief, tossing 11 touchdowns in four games. Running back Deuce Vaughn leads the Big 12 in plays from scrimmage with 258. He has amassed over 1,400 yards from scrimmage this year. K-State only trails Oklahoma for the most rushing yards per game at 208.

Defensively, the Wildcats are good to great against opposing offenses. They are second in the conference in yards allowed per game (361.8) and interceptions forced (1.4).

Kansas vs. Kansas State Prediction

This Big 12 matchup will feature two of the best rushing attacks in the country. I would usually fade a team playing a backup QB, but K-State's Will Howard has been a success story. Regardless of who is under center for KU, they will have a capable arm that can extend plays with their legs. I expect a bounceback performance from the Jayhawks offense while the Wildcats run wild in the final game of the regular season.