The Kansas Jayhawks (13-1) travel to face off against the UCF Knights (9-4) on Wednesday, January 10th. This game will be played at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando and televised on ESPN+. Kansas is coming off a win in their previous game, while UCF is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Kansas State. Tip-off is set for 7:00 ET.
Kansas Jayhawks vs UCF Knights
The Kansas Jayhawks Are Coming Off A Win
After winning their first Big 12 game of the season, Kansas is now 13-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Jayhawks have won nine straight games and have gone 12-1 in non-conference games.
So far this season, Kansas has been favored in all 14 games, going 13-1 in those contests. On the road, the Jayhawks have gone 4-1, compared to a perfect 9-0 at home.
When looking at Kansas’ ATS record this season, they have gone just 5-9. On the road, their ATS mark is 1-4. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Jayhawks are just 3-7 vs. the spread. In their last 3 road games, Kansas is 1-2 ATS.
This season, the over/under record in Kansas games is 6-8. So far, the average point total in their games is 146.3, which is just a tick above the average OU line of 146.2. Over their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 with an average scoring total of 150 points.
The UCF Knights Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
UCF will look to bounce back after a 77-52 loss to Kansas State. The Knights enter the game with a 9-4 record, including an 8-2 mark at home. Over their last 10 home games, they are 8-2.
On the season, UCF has been an underdog twice, going 0-2 in those games. They are 9-2 when favored. Coming into this game, they have won three straight at home.
As the underdog, UCF has not fared well against the spread this season, going 0-2. Their overall ATS mark is just 6-7, but they have been better at home, posting a 6-4 record vs. the spread. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, the Knights have gone 4-6.
So far this season, the over/under record for UCF games is 8-5 and today’s line of 143.5 is higher than the average OU line in their games (139.1). Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 135 points.
Kansas Offense Breakdown
In their most recent game, the Jayhawks’ offense tallied 83 points, consistent with their ongoing season average of 79.9 points per game. In terms of three-point shooting, the Jayhawks offense has been good from outside, hitting 36% of their three-pointers on an average of 18 attempts per game. Their overall field goal percentage is currently 50%.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin McCullar Jr. (G) | 20.1 | 6.8 | 4.5 |
| Hunter Dickinson (C) | 19.4 | 12.4 | 1.9 |
| KJ Adams Jr. (F) | 12.6 | 4.6 | 3.1 |
UCF Offense Breakdown
The UCF offense, in their latest game, managed to score just 52 points versus Kansas State. During the game, they attempted 21 three-point shots and had a field goal percentage of 33.8%. One area that the UCF offense has been good this season is getting to the line. Currently, they are 53rd in free-throw attempts per contest. Overall, they have a field goal percentage of 43%.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylin Sellers (G) | 17.8 | 4.5 | 1.1 |
| Darius Johnson (G) | 13.9 | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Marchelus Avery (F) | 10.6 | 4.7 | 1.0 |
Kansas Team Defense
In the current season, the Kansas defense has excelled, sitting 73rd in the nation by allowing 66.4 points per game. In their previous game vs. TCU, the Horned Frogs finished with a field goal percentage of 53% and a total of 81 points vs. Kansas.
UCF Team Defense
At this time, the Knights’ defense is positioned 49th in the country, permitting 65.2 points per game. In their most recent game, the UCF defense struggled to defend the three-point line, as Kansas State knocked down 9 three-pointers on their way to 77 points.
Jayhawks vs Knights Trends
- Although Kansas has a straight up record of 4-1 in their last five road games, they have not held up as well vs. the spread going 1-4. The team averaged 78 points per game in these games.
- Through their last ten home contests, the Knights offense has averaged 66 points per game while allowing an average of 68. UCF posted an overall record of 4-6 while going 5-5 ATS.
- Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Knights have gone 2-3 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-4.
- In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Jayhawks have a straight up record of 3-0, while going 1-2 against the spread.
Jayhawks vs Knights Prediction
The Knights come in as the underdog at +6.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 143.5 and our model has the Jayhawks and Knights finishing with a combined 142 points. Our pick is to take the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:January 10, 2024 Kansas Jayhawks, Teams, UCF Knights