UCF vs Kansas Odds, Picks, and Predictions: Jayhawks Can't Keep Up

Big 12 football doesn’t get any better than what we will see Saturday when UCF visits Kansas. The CFB odds favor UCF as a -2.0 favorite when the two groups meet for the first time in school history.

UCF is seeking its first-ever Big 12 victory and suffered a 36-35 Week 5 home loss to Baylor. Kansas hopes to improve to 2-1 in conference play after losing 40-14 last week at Texas. 

Can UCF pull off an upset over Kansas? Please join us as we share our best college football odds with some free college football picks and predictions for UCF and Kansas on Saturday, October 7. 

UCF vs Kansas best odds

UCF vs Kansas picks and predictions

In a game featuring two robust offenses and not much defense, my best bet is for UCF to win this contest straight up and upset Kansas on Saturday.

Both schools will likely start reserve QBs on Saturday, but UCF QB Timmy McClain is the better of the two, and McClain will lead the high-scoring Knights offense over a mediocre Jayhawks defense.

McClain will make the start for UCF and, since replacing starting QB John Rhys Plumlee, has thrown seven TD passes with only two interceptions and is 3rd nationally with 17.4 passing yards per competition. 

Four UCF receivers have 100+ receiving yards–WR Kobe Hudson is 15th in the country in receiving yards, and three Knights have hauled in 2+ TD passes. The Knights ground game ranks 3rd in the country with 255 rushing yards, led by RBs Johnny Richardson and RJ Harvey.

The Jayhawks' defense is 79th nationally in points allowed and has surrendered 17+ in each of their past five. Kansas yielded 40 points to Texas in their Week 5 loss to the Longhorns and resides 12th in the Big 12 in points allowed per contest. The Jayhawks’ rushing defense is 9th, the passing defense hasn’t fared much better, and we should expect Kansas to surrender a pile of points on Saturday.

The Longhorns stymied the Jayhawks' offense, but Kansas should fare better at home against a shaky UCF defense. Starting QB Jalon Daniels has missed the last two contests and is questionable for Saturday. Reserve QB Jason Bean has been solid for Kansas with three passing TDs without an interception. 

Bean threw a TD pass against Texas and boasts five receivers with 100+ receiving yards, but the offense goes nowhere without RB Devin Neal. Neal leads the Big 12 in rushing and averages 6.7 yards per carry. Neal is also a valued receiver but hasn’t seen the end zone in the Jayhawks' last two contests.

The UCF defense is 59th nationally in points allowed, and they’ll likely fare better against the pass without Daniels than they will at stopping Neal. The Knights allow the 3rd most rushing TDs but the least passing TDs, which bodes well for a possible UCF upset.

Finally, I expect some big plays from UCF on Saturday. The UCF focus has been throwing the ball downfield, and they’ve succeeded this season, averaging 15.8 yards per reception. UCF is a big-play offense facing a Kansas defense that leaks points while allowing 5.8 yards passing yards per play. That won’t cut it against this Knights offense, and McClain and UCF will outscore Kansas and win this game in a close one. 

My best bet: UCF ML (-124 at BetRivers)
Picks made at time of writing may not reflect live odds.

UCF vs Kansas same-game parlay

UFC moneyline

UCF team total Over 31.5

+218 at DraftKings

In addition to our best bet of UCF moneyline, we are going to double down on their side and take them on the team total which is currently sitting at 31.5 points. 

UCF has scored 31.5 or more in four of their past five games, and Kansas has surrendered 31.5 or more only once when they gave up 40 points in a loss to Texas. If UCF can keep their penalty yards down and come up with a couple of big offensive plays, they can exceed the bookies' number against Kansas. 

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

UCF vs Kansas spread and Over/Under analysis

I like UCF to get the win on Saturday, and I expect UCF to score big against the Jayhawks. Here are some additional notes for Saturday’s Big 12 clash.

UCF has 400+ total yards of offense in each of their five games and is one of 17 schools with over 1000 rushing yards this season. Kansas is knocking on the 1000-yard door with 995 on the ground this season.

UCF is the only Big 12 team to rank among the top three in total offense (1st), rushing offense (1st), scoring offense (2nd), and passing offense (3rd).

Knights DE Tre’mon Morris-Brash leads the country with 12 tackles for a loss. UCF ranks 55th nationally with six tackles for a loss per game. Kansas holds the edge here, ranking 8th in the country on an average of 8.2 per contest.

Jayhawks senior safety Kenny Logan has 322 career tackles. That ranks sixth among active FBS players and is the most by a safety. Logan has a team-high 31 tackles, with two passes defended and a pick-six. 

The Jayhawks defense has recorded 41 tackles-for-loss for 155 yards this season, which is tied for the sixth most in the NCAA and second most in the Big 12. Kansas has recorded two defensive TDs, while the Knights' defense hasn’t scored this season.

UCF vs Kansas betting trend to know

The Knights are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game. Find more college football betting trends for UCF vs Kansas.

UCF vs Kansas game info

UCF vs Kansas latest injuries

UCF vs Kansas weather

Monitor gametime conditions with our College football weather info.

Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Pages related to this topic