Key Takeaways:
- The Kansas vs. Kansas State basketball game ended with K-State on top, winning 75-70 in overtime.
- The Jayhawks were favored by 4.5 points heading into the game.
- Kansas and Kansas State are set to face off again on Tuesday, March 5 at 8 p.m. CT.
The Kansas Jayhawks, behind the strength of center Hunter Dickinson, have gotten out to a great start and are currently ranked No. 4 in the nation. Kansas is 5-2 against the ranked teams it has played, and is 18-5 overall.
The Kansas State Wildcats have gotten off to a decent start as well, but have lost five games against ranked opponents this season.
Kansas vs. Kansas State Odds: Who Is Favored To Win?
Odds for Kansas vs. Kansas State favored KU by 4.5 points on February 5, but K-State came out on top 75-70 in overtime. Their next matchup is March 5, and this time around the Kansas Jayhawks' odds may not be as favorable.
| Kansas-Kansas State Spread | Kansas TBD, Kansas State TBD |
| Kansas-Kansas State Moneyline | KU TBD, K-State TBD |
| Kansas-Kansas State Point Total | O/U TBD |
This is definitely a big brother vs. little brother rivalry, and there are few schools with as much storied college basketball history as the Kansas Jayhawks. However, the Kansas State Wildcats are usually able to be enough of a pain in the Jayhawks' side to cause chaos, hence their February 5 victory over their Big 12 rival.
Latest KU-K State Betting Updates
- 📆 Feb. 5: The Kansas State Wildcats upset the Kansas Jayhawks 75-70 in overtime.
- 📆 Dec. 1: No. 5 Kansas defeats No. 4 UConn 69-65.
- 📆 Nov. 21: No. 1 Kansas loses first game of its season 73-59 to No. 4 Marquette in Maui Invitational semifinals.
- 📆 Nov. 6: Kansas State loses first game of its season 91-83 to No. 12 Miami.
- 📆 May 4: Hunter Dickinson transfers from Michigan to Kansas.
How to Watch Kansas vs. Kansas State
Kansas and Kansas State will play at 8 p.m. CT on March 5 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.
How Much Are Tickets for Kansas vs. Kansas State?
For this rivalry game, tickets start at $149 and are as high as around $1,000 for excellent seats. It should be a packed arena and a great environment for college basketball.
Betting on Kansas vs. Kansas State 2023-2024 College Basketball Game
Head coach Bill Self and Kansas' top scorer Hunter Dickinson should be a handful for Kansas State to keep contained. Kansas State leading scorer Cam Carter will need to fill up the scoresheet in order to keep the Wildcats in it, while head coach Jerome Tang will have to devise a game plan to slow down Dickinson.
There are plenty of available wagers that will be able to be made at ESPN BET Kansas, such as full-game spread, money line and total.
Kansas and Kansas State Rankings
The Jayhawks are currently ranked No. 4 in the AP and Coaches Polls. They began the season No. 1 and dropped as low as 5/6 during the season, but climbed back up after a handful of key victories. The Wildcats, meanwhile, has received some poll votes this year but haven't made their way into the top 25 just yet.
2023-24 Kansas vs. Kansas State Predictions
These teams always play close games, so don't be surprised if Kansas State is able to keep the second game close. However, Kansas just has too much talent this year and will be in Lawrence for the second matchup. I expect the Jayhawks to win (and cover) in March.
Where to Bet on Kansas vs. Kansas State
There are plenty of options for betting the Kansas State-Kansas showdown at online sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM Kansas and more. Sportsbooks will offer pre-game odds on the total and spread, along with in-game wagers when the game tips off.
History of the Sunflower Showdown
The Sunflower Showdown has been one of college basketball's most exciting and long-standing rivalries. Here are a few standout games.
Top Games Between Kansas and Kansas State
- 🏀 March 13, 1993 (Kansas State 74, Kansas 67): Kansas State was on the NCAA bubble when it headed to Kansas City for the Big 8 tournament. They ended up beating Kansas in the semifinals and making the NCAA tourney, where they lost in the first round.
- 🏀 Jan. 14, 2006 (Kansas State 59, Kansas 55): Kansas State ended a 12-year losing streak to Kansas, as Jim Woolridge pulled off one of the biggest wins in K-State basketball history, beating Kansas in Lawrence.
- 🏀 Feb. 10, 2014 (Kansas State 85, Kansas 82 in OT): In one of the few overtime games in the series history, Bruce Weber won his first game over the Jayhawks, after winning a Big 12 title the season prior.
- 🏀 Feb. 10, 2014 (Kansas State 70, Kansas 63): For the first time since 1988-1989, Kansas State beat Kansas two years in a row. Although it was an overall disappointing season for K-State, this was a highlight and may have saved Weber's job.
- 🏀 Feb. 22, 2022: Kansas 102, Kansas State 83: En route to a fourth national championship, No. 5 Kansas dominated Kansas State throughout in a rout, beating the Wildcats for the second time that season.
Kansas-Kansas State Accomplishment Comparison (prior to 2023 season)
| Stat | Kansas Jayhawks | Kansas State Wildcats |
|---|---|---|
| National Titles | 4 | 0 |
| Reg. Season Big 12/Conference Championships | 64 | 19 |
| Final Four Appearances | 15 | 4 |
| NCAA Tournament Appearances | 50 | 32 |
| All-Time Record, Win % | 2,370-885 (.728) | 1,717-1,222 (.584) |
Kansas vs. Kansas State FAQs
There are currently no odds for the Kansas Jayhawks vs. Kansas State Wildcats game on March 5. The Jayhawks were favored by 4.5 points last time on February 5, but the Wildcats captured the upset victory 75-70 in overtime.
Jerome Tang is the Kansas State basketball coach. It is his second year as head coach with the Wildcats and his record is 34-12.
Bill Self is the Kansas basketball coach. He is in his 21st season at the school and has a remarkable record of 568-133, for a winning percentage over .800.
No, Kansas State has never won a national championship in college basketball. The Wildcats lost in the national championship game in 1951.
Kansas has four national championships, winning in 1952, 1988, 2008 and 2022. Head coach Bill Self has won two of the school's four national championships.
The Kansas-Kansas State game in college basketball is known as the Sunflower Showdown.
Kansas has beaten Kansas State 201 times in college basketball. Kansas State has won 96 of the matchups against Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown.
The last time Kansas State swept Kansas in basketball was the 1982 and 1983 college basketball seasons. K-State went 5-0 against KU during that span.
Author
Ben Fawkes has been in the sports betting space since 2010, overseeing digital content for ESPN and VSiN. He helped shape strategy for ESPN's sports betting podcasts and TV show Daily Wager, along with VSiN's show, podcast and YouTube strategy.
