BYU vs Kansas Picks & Predictions (Jan 31)

• The 14th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks are 4.5-point home favorites vs the no. 13 BYU Cougars
• This features a matchup between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, expected lottery picks in the 2026 NBA Draft
• See below for my BYU vs Kansas prediction and best bets

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It’s a crucial Big 12 battle Saturday when the 14th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks (15-5, 5-2 Big 12) host the BYU Cougars (17-3, 5-2 Big 12). The books like the Jayhawks at home, picking them as their favorites in the college basketball odds.

Both schools are trying to stay in range at the top of an ultra-competitive conference, with top-ranked and undefeated Arizona at the top, with powerhouses Houston, Texas Tech and Iowa State all above the fifth-place Cougars and sixth-placed Jayhawks. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30pm ET from Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, KS, with ABC providing the broadcast coverage.

BYU vs Kansas Odds & Betting Lines

Odds as of Jan 30. The interactive table above will automatically update as the college basketball odds move over the course of the day. New customers can claim a FanDuel promo code get a bonus to bet on college basketball.

Not often you see a team with a 17-3 record ranked inside the Top 15 as an underdog, especially against a school that’s ranked lower than them, but that’s where we’re at. BYU has been set as a +164 ‘dog on the moneyline at FanDuel, while getting 4.5 points at bet365 on the spread.

Kansas is a short -185 to win outright, and are -3.5 points to cover at FanDuel at -120 odds. The total checks in at 159.5 points. The Cougars have cashed the Under in four of the last six, while Kansas has gone Under to the total in four straight.

BYU vs Kansas Picks and Prediction

• BYU +4.5 points (-110) at bet365

These two seem to be forever linekd in this college basketball season. They’re side-by-side in the latest March Madness odds, with the Cougars at +1600 and Kanas right behind them at +2000.

On KenPom, the Jayhawks are ranked 14th overall, with BYU trailing in 15th, while both sit at 5-2 in the Big 12.

However, the matchup Saturday will also garner the most interest from hoop fans, as it will feature a matchup of star-powered freshmen. BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson are definite locks for the lottery should they decide to make it a one-and done campaign, and both are in the conversation for the no. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Cougars have stumbled coming into this one, which is not really a surprise as the competition has levelled up. Their most recent loss was to top-ranked Arizona, who moved to 21-0 with a close 86-83 victory.

Two games ago, BYU was dumped by 13 at Texas Tech, who were ranked 15th at the time.

Kansas will be the third ranked team the Cougars have faced in four games, and their record against top competition is just 1-3.

The Jayhawks will be facing the sixth ranked team of their season, part of the reason KenPom has Kansas ranked third in its strength of schedule metric.

Kansas vs Ranked Teams This Season

Kansas’ latest 4-game win streak kicked off with arguably its biggest win of the season, knocking off then no. 2 Iowa State in blowout fashion, 84-63.

Peterson had 16 points in that win, but he missed the Jayhawks’ last game – an 86-62 win over Kansas State – and he’s played just 10 total games this season as he’s dealt with leg injuries and cramping a lot this season.

Coach Bill Self said Peterson should be a go Saturday, and he changes the dynamic of a team that currently ranks third-last in scoring in the Big 12 at 72.3 points per game.

Kansas’ strength is still its defense, which allows just 67.3 points per game, but ranks first in the Big 12 in both field goal (37.9%) and 3-point (29.1%) shooting.

But my BYU vs Kansas pick will roll with the underdogs and take those 4.5 points. Allen Fieldhouse is a tough venue, but BYU won there in 2024, so there’s no demons needed to exorcise on that front.

Kansas will be the first Top 5 scoring defense the Cougars have faced in conference play, but they’ve been consistently strong putting up points.

They’re led by Dybantsa, who ranks second in the nation at 23.6 points per game, and has helped BYU average 85.7 points in Big 12 action, the second-best average behind only Arizona.

BYU is also the top offensive rebounding team in the Big 12, and those extra possessions should help to keep them in range.