Jayhawks Football Faces Long Road to Kansas Sports Betting Success

We’re less than two months away from the opening kickoff of Lance Leipold’s second season in Lawrence, as the Kansas Jayhawks look to get back to respectability this fall.

Fans will be able to hear from Kansas’ coach Wednesday during the first day of Big 12 Football Media Days at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

And by the time the Jayhawks kick off conference play at West Virginia on Sept. 10, Kansas sports betting could be in full swing.

The Kansas Lottery and Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission are currently working on wagering rules, with the hope fans will be able to place bets by the first NFL game on Sept. 9.

Leipold, who came to Kansas after a six-year stint at Buffalo where he won two MAC titles and more than .500 of his games overall, went 2-10 in his first year in Lawrence last fall.

Perhaps the biggest moment in recent KU football history was the team’s ability to go to Austin and knock off Texas, 57-56, on Nov. 13.

That represented Kansas’ lone win against an FBS opponent, however, with the team’s other victory coming against South Dakota in Week 1.

There’s reason for optimism, with senior quarterback Jason Bean and the leading rusher (Devin Neal) and receiver (Trevor Wilson) in the fold for the Jayhawks this fall.

Kansas kicks off the season against Tennessee Tech in Lawrence at 7 p.m. Sept. 2.  

Here’s a rundown of how Kansas betting apps see the Jayhawks faring.

2022 Big 12 Championship Odds

KU the Big 12 Cellar-Dweller in 2022

Perhaps the nicest thing one can say about the Jayhawks’ Big 12 odds is we’re more than halfway to Kansas’ season opener in men’s basketball.

That’s because Kansas is by far the longest of long shots, with odds of +10000 to win it all on BetMGM and +30000 on Caesars Kansas Sportsbook.

By comparison, the next closest conference foe on either list is Texas Tech, which is listed at +6000 at Caesars.

As far as win total over/under is concerned, KU is listed at 2.5 on both sites. Both the over and under on BetMGM are going for -110, while Caesars Sportsbook has the over at -135 and the under at +105.

If you’re looking for value, Baylor is the media’s pick to win the Big 12, but is tied for third with Oklahoma State in title odds at BetMGM at +700.

Who to Watch on KU This Fall?

The show in Lawrence starts and ends on the arm of Bean, who finished 2021 with a pair of 200-plus yard passing performances — but as many touchdowns (six) as interceptions.

Bean’s best game was Kansas’ 52-33 loss to Duke on Sept. 25, when he tossed for 323 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Besides Bean, Leipold and company will lean heavily on Neal — who ran for 707 yards and a touchdown as a freshman last year.

Neal’s coming-out party came in Austin, when he ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns in the Jayhawks’ upset win.

In total, Neal had three 100-yard performances in 2021, also doing so against Oklahoma (100 yards on 23 carries, two touchdowns) and Duke (107 yards on 17 carries, one touchdown).

Wilson finished with 364 yards and a touchdown as a redshirt sophomore in 2021, after hauling in 16 catches for 319 yards and three scores as a freshman in 2020.  

All three will be counted on to get the Jayhawks to respectability in 2022, as Kansas looks to reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2008.