Kansas Jayhawks vs Kansas St. Wildcats prediction, odds and best bet for Oct. 17, 2026
Kansas State will beat Kansas 30-27 in the Oct. 17 Sunflower Showdown, with Avery Johnson’s passing and rushing production and the Wildcats’ strong third-down offense supplying the deciding edge. Kansas State’s vulnerable run defense keeps the forecast close. Neither Kansas +3.5 (-110) nor the 55.5 total offers a convincing betting edge, making Pass the official recommendation.
Kansas Jayhawks vs Kansas St. Wildcats prediction and best bet
Kansas State gets the winner pick, with low confidence. Its 61.6% third-down conversion rate ranks second nationally, and Johnson gives the offense a productive runner as well as a passer. Those strengths favor the Wildcats in a close finish, but their recent losses leave meaningful doubt.
The best betting decision is Pass. Kansas has an appealing opening against the Wildcats’ run defense, yet exploiting it requires improvement from a rushing attack that got little from Dylan Edwards last week. A three-point projected margin alone is too thin a reason to back Kansas +3.5 (-110).
Odds, game time and how to watch
Game time: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at 11 a.m. CT, according to Kansas Athletics.
Venue: Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas.
Broadcast: FS1.
Records: Kansas Jayhawks 2-3; Kansas St. Wildcats 3-2.
Rivalry: This is the teams’ 124th football meeting. Kansas State has won 17 consecutive Sunflower Showdowns, including a 42-17 victory in 2025.
SportsJaw odds: Kansas Jayhawks +3 (-112); Kansas St. Wildcats -3 (-107). Moneyline: Kansas Jayhawks +126; Kansas St. Wildcats -148. Total: Over 55.5 (-107); Under 55.5 (-109).