Kansas vs. NC State Preview, Picks and Prediction, Saturday, December 13, 2025
Use Code WWWC On Saturday, the Kansas Jayhawks will play the North Carolina State Wolfpack in a Big 12 vs. ACC college hoops clash at the Lenovo Center, and we have you ready to go with our Kansas vs. NC State prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from Raleigh, NC, is at 5:30 p.m. ET.
North Carolina State is a two-point spread favorite, and the game total is 148.5 points scored.
These programs met last season in Lawrence, a game the Jayhawks won 75-60. If you want the Kansas vs. NC State prediction, read on to get our top NCAAB predictions and increase your bankroll!
Kansas welcomed back star frosh Peterson last game
Kansas (7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS, and 2-8 O/U) beat Mizzou 80-60 in its previous game, covering as six-point spread favorites. The Jayhawks shot 43 percent from three, hit 19 free throws, and outrebounded the Tigers 41-35. Mizzou was held to 25 first-half points and was 7-for-27 (26%) from beyond the arc.
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Kansas lost significant production from last season's team, most notably point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and center Hunter Dickinson. Talented guards Rylan Griffen and Zeke Mayo are also gone, forcing Sell to recruit hard (six incoming frosh) and hit the transfer portal to fill those holes. KU returns six letterwinners, including sophomore forward Flory Bidunga (14.7 PPG and 9.0 RPG this season), a defensive presence who averages 2.5 blocks per game. Unlike Dickinson, he makes opponents think twice about attacking the Jayhawks at the rim. Senior guards Melvin Council Jr. (10.7 PPG and 5.3 APG), a St. Bonaventure transfer, and Tre White (14.3 PPG and 7.1 RPG), a portal addition from Illinois, are also key contributors for Kansas. True freshman guard Darryn Peterson (20.0 PPG in three games) returned to the court after a month's absence (hamstring) versus Missouri. He scored 17 points in 23 minutes.
Kansas averages 74.6 points per game (273rd) on 46.1 percent shooting (155th), including 34.0 percent from beyond the arc (107th). Defensively, the Jayhawks surrender 63.7 points per game (11th) on 37.5 percent shooting (17th), including 24.9 percent from three (5th). KU is ranked 17th in the country, with rankings of 53rd in offensive efficiency and 8th in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
Kansas Jayhawks Injury Report:
- No injuries to report.
Wolfpack shoot 40 percent from three-point range
NC State (7-3 SU, 5-5 ATS, and 5-5 O/U) beat Liberty 84-45 at home on Wednesday night. The Wolfpack outscored the Flames 45-19 in the first half, dominating inside. They shot 52 percent overall, including 42 percent from beyond the arc. Liberty committed 17 turnovers and shot 35 percent from the field.
The 2025-26 Wolfpack squad features a lot of new faces, as last season's eight leading scorers graduated or transferred. Leading scorer Darrion Williams (15.9 PPG and 5.1 RPG), a senior forward from Texas Tech, is the team's star. He brings significant NCAA Tournament experience to the table. Second-leading scorer Quadir Copeland, a senior guard who started his career at Syracuse, is another key contributor, averaging 14.1 points with 5.1 dimes per game. A few other North Carolina State players to watch against Kansas are senior forward Ven-Allen Lubin (13.3 PPG and 7.2 RPG), sophomore guard Paul McNeil Jr. (11.6 PPG and 4.1 RPG), and senior guard Tre Holloman (11.3 PPG).
North Carolina State averages 88.8 points per game (17th) on 50.2 percent shooting (34th), including 40.0 percent from three-point range (15th). Defensively, the Wolfpack allows 80.8 points per game (264th) on 42.8 percent shooting (149th), including 33.8 percent from three (242nd). NC State is ranked 28th in the country, with rankings of 19th in offensive efficiency and 56th in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
NC State Wolfpack Injury Report:
- No injuries to report.
Kansas vs. NC State Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Kansas vs. NC State
- Wolfpack -2 (4 Units)
This game should be tight throughout, but I give the edge to the home team. NC State is deep and dangerous, especially when it's knocking down three-pointers. While balanced offensively, the Wolfpack can really separate from opponents when they're hot from long range, as all four of their top scorers shoot between 46 and 55 percent from deep. The fifth-leading scorer still shoots 36 percent. They're also very efficient overall, ranking 15th nationally in effective field goal percentage. NC State takes good care of the basketball on offense (46th in turnover percentage) and comes away with plenty of steals on defense (39th in opponent turnover percentage), too. The Jayhawks, meanwhile, rarely force turnovers (354th in opponent turnover percentage).
Kansas is undoubtedly a talented team, but I question whether it can trade buckets with the Wolfpack on Saturday. Peterson's return gives them a significant boost, but he only has one game under his belt. He and White are the only reliable long-range threats on the Jayhawks' roster, which is a concern against an NC State team that forces their opponents into the seventh-most threes and seventh-fewest two-pointers in the NCAA. The visitors can certainly muck it up defensively, but if their shots aren't falling on the other end of the court, North Carolina State will win and cover the spread.
Over/Under Pick for Kansas vs. NC State
- Over 148.5 (4 Units)
This is a very evenly-matched game, and while both teams are solid defensively, I lean towards the over.
Kansas may not hit many threes and will be in for a challenge getting the ball into the paint, but I believe they will get extra points at the charity stripe. The Jayhawks rank in the top 50 in both free-throw attempt rate and free-throw shooting percentage, while NC State is foul-prone (150th in opponent FT rate). KU also does a fine job on the offensive boards and could generate second-chance scoring opportunities there.
On the other end, anticipate the Wolfpack to push the pace (73rd in schedule-adjusted tempo) and get plenty of shots up (Kansas ranks 293rd in opponent FG attempts per game). Their top four scorers all shoot between 50 and 67 percent overall and won't be afraid to test the Jayhawks' elite three-point defense. I also anticipate NC State to perform at its highest level in this game, as they rank 13th nationally in home-court play, per Haslametrics.
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