Kansas Jayhawks vs. UCF Knights Picks, Prediction, Odds and Line Movement for Saturday, January 3, 2026
It’s a conference tilt between foes from the Big 12 on the hardwood in the Sunshine State as the #17 Kansas Jayhawks take on the UCF Knights Saturday afternoon and we have you covered with our Kansas vs. UCF prediction. Kansas comes in off a 90-61 home win over Davidson December 22 in their previous contest, covering the line as a 15-point favorite. UCF edged Florida Atlantic 85-80 at home in their previous contest December 23, failing to cover the line as an 8.5-point favorite. In the all-time series between the schools, the Jayhawks own a 3-1 advantage and have won three straight meetings, including a 98-94 win in the most recent matchup, which came March 12, 2025 in Kansas City as part of the Big 12 Tournament. Read more about this Kansas vs. UCF prediction! Struggling with handicapping? Try our NCAAB Predictions!
Sign Up for Winners and Whiners News Alerts, Get Exclusive Offers and Discounts
Subscribe Now
Jayhawks Trying to Maintain Surge
Kansas won their fourth straight and seventh in the last eight games as they dropped the hammer on Davidson in their previous contest. The Jayhawks improved to 10-3 overall on the year and look to start conference play on a positive note. Against Davidson, Kansas scored the game’s first five points and didn’t look back as they led wire-to-wire. The Jayhawks owned a 51-31 advantage at the half and led by as many as 35 en route to the one-sided win. Kansas shot 57.8% from the floor, including 11 of 21 from beyond the arc, and owned a 42-31 advantage on the boards. Flory Bidunga and Tre White each finished with 18 points and eight rebounds In the win to lead Kansas.
The Jayhawks are averaging 75.8 points per game this season, putting them 220th in the nation in scoring offense. Kansas collects 40.2 rebounds per contest and dishes out 15.8 assists a night, which is 112th in the nation. The Jayhawks are 18th in scoring defense as they allow 64.1 points per contest this season. Darryn Peterson is leading the team with 19.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game this season. Flory Bidunga (14.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks) and Tre White (14.5 points, seven rebounds) are capable secondary scoring options. Melvin Council Jr. (12.9 points, 5.2 assists), Bryson Tiller, Kohl Rosario, Elmarko Jackson, Nginyu Ngala, Jamari McDowell and Jayden Dawson all have to contribute on the offensive end of the floor. The Jayhawks shoot 46.8% from the field as a team this season, putting them 124th in the country. Kansas knocks down 7.8 three-pointers a night while sinking 35.6% from beyond the arc, putting them 100th in the country. The Jayhawks are above average at the free throw line as they convert at a 74.8% rate so far this season, putting them 84th in Division I.
Key Injury Report for Kansas:
- No Key Injuries
UCF Shooting for 11th Straight Win
UCF ran their win streak to 10 games as they held off Florida Atlantic at home in their final game before the holiday break. The Knights improved to 11-1 on the year and try to extend their win streak as they start conference play. Against Florida Atlantic, UCF found themselves trailing 30-16 with 6:17 to play in the first half before closing on a 17-8 run to get within 38-33 at intermission. The Knights opened the second half on an 11-0 run to take a 44-38 lead with 17:05 remaining and held the Owls at bay the rest of the way to earn the win. UCF shot 49.2% from the field, including six of 19 from beyond the arc, and owned a 42-37 advantage on the glass in the contest. Themus Fulks led the Knights with 24 points and 12 assists in the win.
The Knights put up an average of 88.3 points per contest (31st in the country) this season. UCF pulls down 40.8 rebounds per contest (37th) while dishing out 17.3 assists per game (57th) this season. The Knights are a below average team on the defensive end of the floor, ranking 227th in the nation by allowing 74.9 points per game. Riley Kugel is one of four players averaging in double figures with 13.7 points plus 2.5 assists a night this season. Jordan Burks (13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds) and Jamichael Stillwell (12.6 points, 8.8 rebounds) provide secondary scoring punch. Themus Fulks (13.3 points, 7.2 assists), Carmelo Pacheco, John Bol, Devan Cambridge, Chris Johnson, Kris Parker, George Beale Jr., Jeremy Foumena and Elijah Hulseve are all important rotation players for the Knights. UCF is shooting 49.6% from the floor as a team this season. The Knights drain 8.9 triples a night while shooting 39.8% from beyond the arc, which is 13th in the nation. UCF is cashing in 74% of their chances at the free throw line, which leaves them 103rd in the nation in that department.
Key Injury Report for UCF:
- Center Elijah Hulseve (undisclosed) is questionable.
Kansas vs. UCF Pick
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  The Insiders Room | +1,793.00 |
| 2 |  Tony Karpinski | +1,731.00 |
| 3 |  Jesse Schule | +1,599.00 |
| 4 |  Rob Vinciletti | +1,284.00 |
| 5 |  David Delano | +1,232.00 |
Kansas vs. UCF Spread Pick
- UCF +5.5 (4 units)
Kansas is the ranked team here and the favorite as the visiting team but that doesn't mean you have to blindly back them here. Peterson, the #1 prospect in the class, has played just four games so far, though the expectation is tha he’ll play here. Still, Kansas split their two true road games, losing in Chapel Hill to North Carolina and edging NC State by a point in overtime. UCF’s lone loss was at home to Vanderbilt in the second game of the year but they’ve beaten some solid teams. The Knights beat Texas A&M in College Station and Pitt in Daytona Beach. Self will get everything he can from his guys and Kansas likely gets the win here but take the points and the Knights at home in this one.
Kansas vs. UCF Over/Under Pick
- Under 153.5 (4 units)
Kansas has stayed under the number in nine of their 13 games that had a posted total heading into this game. The Jayhawks enter this game 52nd in the nation in offensive efficiency, 98th in effective field goal percentage (53.5%), 166th in two-point shooting (53.6%) and they stand 63rd in the nation by assisting on 58.2% of their field goals this season. Kansas is 6th in defensive efficiency, 5th in effective field goal percentage defense (42%) and 5th in field goal percentage defense (36.6%) on the season. The Jayhawks are 209th in the nation in tempo as they average 68.6 possessions per game according to KenPom. On the year, the Knights have split their 12 games with a posted total on the year. UCF has been clicking offensively in the early going but their hot three-point shooting will be tested by a Kansas team that is limiting opposing teams to 25.2% shooting from beyond the arc. The Knights are 108th in adjusted tempo with 70.5 possessions a night but Kansas will take the air out of the ball. That keeps this game under the total.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
