A conference clash is happening in Fifth Third Arena this weekend. The #11 Kansas Jayhawks (11-3; 8-6-0 ATS) are visiting the Cincinnati Bearcats (10-4; 6-8-0 ATS) on Saturday afternoon. Their matchup is scheduled to tip off at 2:00 p.m. EST. When these schools last met on the court, Cincinnati beat Kansas 72-52 in the Big 12 Tournament. Will the Jayhawks exact revenge on the road?
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The Big 12 always has tough battles. Who will take our Kansas vs. Cincinnati prediction?
Kansas Coming Back to Life
The Jayhawks (2-1 Big 12) had a rough December by their standards, but two huge wins to open 2025 have them back on track. Kansas resembles the team ranked ninth in KenPom's ratings and opened the season atop the polls. Their defense is one of the country's best. In their past five matchups, Kansas has held foes to 55.6 points per game. For the season, they surrender 63.6 points per contest, even with a slightly uptempo style. The Jayhawks limit opponents to 37.3% shooting and 29.3% accuracy from deep. This defense forces 12.2 turnovers per game. Opposing teams average 9.4 offensive boards and 17.2 free throw attempts against Kansas. Let's see if Saturday turns into another defensive masterclass.
With a defense that strong, Kansas' offense (78.9 ppg) has been good enough for a win every time they scored at least 70 points. The bad news is that the Jayhawks have fallen short of 70 points in two of their three away games, hence the losses. Kansas' 48.8% shooting dips to 42.6% when they travel. Outside of field goal percentage and free throw shooting (69.0% on the road), the Jayhawks' numbers don't decline much in away games. Led by Hunter Dickinson (15.9 ppg), Kansas averages 10.6 offensive rebounds and 10.4 turnovers per game. The Jayhawks hit 34.8% of their three-pointers. Can they muster enough to win in Cincinnati?
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Cincinnati Can't Secure a Win
Meanwhile, the Bearcats (0-3 Big 12) can't buy a Big 12 victory. Their 10-1 out-of-conference start has ceded to a suddenly lifeless offense. Cincinnati (75.4 ppg) didn't reach 70 points scored in any of their conference matchups. This offense's efficiency is down to 47.0% from the floor, 34.5% from deep, and 62.8% at the charity stripe. The Bearcats average 12.9 offensive rebounds and 10.3 turnovers per contest. Hopefully, playing at home (7-1; 82.2 ppg) will spark a typically scary team.
Defensively, KenPom considers this team the country's 11th-best. Before Big 12 play, they held every opponent under 70 points. In three conference games, the Bearcats are allowing 70.0 points per game. Cincinnati surrenders the ninth-fewest points per game nationally (61.0), so this qualifies as a slump. The Bearcats have limited foes to 39.1% from the floor and 28.6% from deep this season. The defense allows 15.1 free throw attempts and 9.6 offensive rebounds per game. Cincinnati forces 12.7 turnovers per contest. Do they have any answers for the Jayhawks?
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Best Bets for Kansas vs. Cincinnati
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
This is the perfect matchup to get the Bearcats back on track. Their defense is one of the toughest nationally, even amid this rough patch, and can contain a Kansas offense struggling on the road. Cincinnati should hold the Jayhawks under 70 points.
Offensively, the Bearcats average 82.2 points on 49.2% shooting at home. They've scored at least 67 points in every home game, and Kansas' defense allowed more than 75 points in two of their three road games. Cincinnati beat the spread in both of 2024's meetings, and they're primed to do it again. Take the Bearcats ATS in this one.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Cincinnati is 274th in adjusted tempo (per KenPom) and will slow the pace of this game. Their defense is rated 11th nationally and only allows 58.9 points per home game. On the other bench, Kansas' defense is rated fourth nationally and holding foes to 55.6 points in their past five games. The under has hit 13 of Kansas' 14 games and 12 of Cincinnati's 14 games.
The Bearcats have been held under 70 points in five of their past six games. They're coming off a season-low 48-point performance. Kansas' shooting drops to 42.6% on the road, and they've fallen short of 70 points in two of their three road matchups. Anticipate a defensive struggle in this one. Bet on the under.
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