Oklahoma State vs Kansas Odds, Picks and Predictions: Cowboys Can't Wrangle Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhawks will look to bounce back from some recent struggles on Tuesday night as they host the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a Big 12 battle. 

Oklahoma State (9-11) broke a six-game losing streak on Sunday when it beat the West Virginia Mountaineers 70-66 at home. Kansas (16-4) is having an excellent season overall, but is just 3-3 in its last six games. Despite those recent struggles, the Jayhawks remain a big favorite tonight in the college basketball odds.

The Cowboys couldn’t find a way to slow down the Jayhawks in the first meeting between these teams and may have just as much trouble in the rematch. We’ll break down what will happen tonight in our free college basketball picks and predictions for Oklahoma State vs. Kansas on January 30. 

Oklahoma State vs Kansas best odds

Oklahoma State vs Kansas picks and predictions

These teams met in Stillwater, OK just two weeks ago and in that matchup, the Kansas Jayhawks ran all over the Oklahoma State Cowboys, easily covering and hitting the Over in a 90-66 win. All five Kansas starters scored in double figures, led by center Hunter Dickinson with 20 points and seven rebounds. 

At the time, that’s just what Kansas was doing to opponents, as that win took the school to 15-2 on the year. The Jayhawks have now lost two of their last three, and even a five-point win at home over the Cincinnati Bearcats looked shaky at times.

Kansas will certainly win this game at home, but with the spread set at around 16 points at most books, that feels like a number I don’t want to touch tonight. Instead, I’d like to look at the total, where I think we can find more to go on and a clear trend to back.

If the Jayhawks make a run in March, it won’t be because they’re the best team in the country at any one thing. However, they do everything well, and that includes their ability to score points. Kansas runs one of the most efficient offenses in the country, shooting 50.5% from the field and scoring an average of 79 points per night. Both Kevin McCullar Jr. (19.8 ppg) and Dickinson (18.9 ppg) are outstanding scorers, and they combine to give the Jayhawks at least one tough threat against any matchup.

In the first meeting between these teams, that proved to be too much for Oklahoma State to handle. The Cowboys are allowing 69.5 points per game, a mediocre number that looks even worse when you consider they don’t play at a quick pace. 

While they tend to play in lower-scoring games when opponents acquiesce to their slow tempo, Kansas isn’t the only team to prove that you can speed up the Cowboys if you want to. The Texas Tech Red Raiders also hit Oklahoma State for 90 points earlier this month.

In the first game between these schools, the teams combined for 156 points. Tonight’s total is set well below that number, but there’s no reason to think the Cowboys will have solved the Kansas attack in the past two weeks. The Jayhawks have hit the Over in four of their last five games, and I expect them to do so again tonight.

My best bet: Over 144 (-110 at DraftKings)

Oklahoma State vs Kansas same-game parlay

Over 144

Kansas -16

Hunter Dickinson Over 18.5 points

Up to 100% boost available

+420 at DraftKings

While I think the Over is the best bet tonight, I have a couple of other options that I’m happy to throw into a same-game parlay. That starts with taking Kansas to cover the hefty 16-point spread in this game. Sure, Kansas has struggled as of late, but the Jayhawks have already handled the Cowboys once on the road. I’m confident the wide talent gap will show just as clearly in Kansas.

I’ll also back Dickinson to hit the Over on his scoring prop of 18.5 points. Dickinson has hit that total in four of his last five games. Most importantly, however, he scored 21 against Oklahoma State in the last meeting between these teams. Cowboys freshman center Brandon Garrison isn’t up to the task of stopping Dickinson, so I’ll take the Over to round out this SGP.

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

Oklahoma State vs Kansas spread and Over/Under analysis

Kansas opened tonight’s game as a 14.5-point favorite. That number has lengthened even more since then, with most books moving to 16 points, with Kansas -15.5 or -16.5 available at some sites. 

The Jayhawks haven’t been great against the spread this year, posting an 8-11 ATS record so far. Oklahoma State has been even worse, going just 6-13-1 ATS on the season. 

I don’t love the fact that the line has moved nine points since the first meeting between these teams, even if Kansas is at home tonight. Still, the Jayhawks are clearly the better team in this matchup, and should probably win this game by around 20 points on average. The variance when we’re talking about spreads that big – and the fact that the Jayhawks are struggling as of late – have me a bit nervous to bet the spread, but I’m still leaning towards Kansas tonight. 

The total on this game opened at 145.5 points. That number has come down at all books, with various sites offering the Over/Under at anywhere between 143.5 and 144.5 points.

You can find -110 on either side of each of these totals by shopping around. 

Each of these teams has played very close to the total all season long. Oklahoma State is exactly 10-10 on the Over/Under, while the Over holds a slim 10-9 edge when Kansas plays this year. 

I think there are two key factors to consider when looking at the total tonight. First, the Kansas offense is humming, and showed that it can put up points at will against the Cowboys two weeks ago. Secondly, while Oklahoma State likes to slow the game, they haven’t been able to do that against capable offenses as of late. Considering these teams easily played above the number in their first meeting, I’m backing the Over again tonight.

Oklahoma State vs Kansas betting trend to know

The Over is 6-2 in Kansas’ last eight games overall. Find more college basketball betting trends for Oklahoma State vs. Kansas.

Oklahoma State vs Kansas game info

Oklahoma State vs Kansas key injuries

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