Picks, Predictions & How to Watch Cincinnati vs Kansas (Feb 21)

• The 8th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks are 10.5-point favorites at home against the Cincinnati Bearcats
• Kansas has won nine of its last 10, while the Bearcats have won three straight
• See below for my Cincinnati vs Kansas prediction and best bets

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The 8th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks Kansas Jayhawks (20-6, 10-3 Big 12) seem to be right on schedule, peaking as the regular season comes to a close.

They’ll try to make it 10 wins in 11 games as they host a suddenly resurgent Cincinnati Bearcats (14-12 6-7 Big 12) side, who are making a late push to find their way into the big dance.

Despite winning three in a row, the books aren’t buying Cincy’s ability to level up, as they’re heavy road underdogs in the college basketball odds,

How to Watch Cincinnati vs Kansas

Action tips off Saturday at 1pm ET from Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, in a game that will be broadcast by CBS.The Bearcats have just one win on the road in seven games this season, and will try to hand Kansas only its second home loss of the year.

Read below for the odds, and my Cincinnati vs Kansas picks and predictions.

Cincinnati vs Kansas Odds & Betting Lines

Kansas is a hefty 10.5-point favorite at home. On the year, the Jayhawks are 4-3-0 against the spread when favored by 10 or more points.

The moneyline is only worthy of a bet if you think the Bearcats can win outright, which pays out at +540. Kansas is an extremely short -800 on the moneyline. 

The total sits at 136.5 points, a fair number consider both schools are in the bottom third of scoring in the Big 12. KU has cashed the Under in four of its last five, while the Bearcats have gone Under in four of their last six.

Odds as of Feb 20. New customers can claim a FanDuel promo code to get a bonus to bet on college basketball.

Cincinnati vs Kansas Prediction

• Kansas -10.5 (-110) at FanDuel

Forget the stats for the Jayhawks, who rank 13th in scoring in the Big 12 and fifth in scoring defense. This latest streak shows they’re battle-tested, and a team that no one wants to deal with, that’s currently 10th in the March Madness odds.

Kansas bounced back from a loss to the no. 5 Iowa State Cyclones with an 81-69 win at Oklahoma State. 

That loss to Iowa State is the outlier for the Jayhawks, who have gone 4-1 against ranked teams during this meaty part of the schedule.

This includes wins over the top-ranked Arizona Wildcats and Iowa State back when they were ranked second overall. BYU and Texas Tech, both ranked 13th at the time, also fell.

Now imagine what they could do with a healthy Darryn Peterson. A potential top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Peterson played just three minutes in the second half against the Cowboys, as his leg issues and cramping crept up again. He’s played just 15 games this season.

The Bearcats haven’t looked this good since starting the year 4-0. After blowing out UCF and Kansas State, they showed some grit in a 69-65 win over Utah for a third straight win.

Cincinnati vs Ranked Teams This Season

Statistically speaking the Bearcats seem almost Kansas-lite, ranking 15th in scoring in the Big 12, while sitting fifth in scoring defense.

The big difference is in big-game performances: aside from a massive win over Iowa State (then 2nd), Cincinnati has lost its six other five other games against ranked opponents and are just 1-9 against Quad 1 competition.

Even though the Bearcats have covered two of the last three meetings between these teams, KU is at a different level this season. They’re also 11-1 at home and a sparkling 17-9-0 against the spread. 

Still with an outside shot to win the Big 12 regular season crown, there should be no let up Saturday.