Baylor and Kansas meet in Lawrence for a Week 8 Big 12 matchup between two teams badly in need of some momentum. The Bears are coming off a disappointing 17-6 loss to TCU, while the Jayhawks saw their losing streak to Kansas State reach 18 games with a 35-24 loss in Manhattan. With both teams trying to get their seasons moving in the right direction, which one breaks through on Saturday? Baylor and Kansas kick off at 1:00 p.m. CT on TNT/truTV. Here’s our prediction, pick and preview.
TCU vs. West Virginia Odds
- Spread: Baylor -2.5
- Over/Under: 51.5
- Moneyline: Baylor -144/Kansas +120
Odds as of Tuesday afternoon. Odds are subject to change.
The Biggest Question: Can Kansas Finally Get a Win?
The Jayhawks have yet to beat a Power 4 opponent this season. And dating back to 2025, KU has lost six Big 12 games in a row, and are 1-8 in their last nine conference games. Now, this team is not anywhere close to where it was in the bad old days pre-Lance Leipold, but at the same time, the resources and facilities have improved, and the 9-4 campaign of 2023 feels like 13 years ago at this point, not three. Kansas had a 17-7 lead after the first quarter at K-State last week, and then got their doors blown off, getting outscored 28-7 the rest of the way. They got ran on for 359 yards by the Wildcats. If there’s some good news, it’s that Baylor’s offense has been wildly inconsistent and that might put KU in a spot to win its first league game of the season. And boy, do they need one.
Kansas vs. Baylor Prediction and Pick
Prediction: Kansas 27, Baylor 23
The Kansas Jayhawks will get their first win of the year. They’re desperate. They’re home. They’re an underdog. They need it. And the match up I like the most is DJ Lagway vs. the Kansas passing defense, that has been underrated so far this season. KU is third in the Big 12 in passing yards allowed per game and goes up against a Baylor offense that wants to pass the ball, ranking third in the league in passing yards per game. Also, Kansas’ Isaiah Marshall will be able to negate Baylor’s pass rush, which ranks first in the Big 12 with 22 sacks in six games. But KU has only been sacked six times in six games, and that’s going up against very solid defensive fronts, like Missouri and Utah.
While Kansas has attracted an overwhelming share of both tickets and money, the betting line has moved in Baylor’s favor, growing from roughly Baylor -1.5 to Baylor -3. That’s often considered one of the strongest indicators of respected action, as oddsmakers have made bettors lay a bigger number with the Bears despite the apparent support for Kansas. I’m with them on this game on Saturday.
Kansas covers. Kansas wins.
