The BYU Cougars take on the Kansas State Wildcats in Manhattan, Kansas. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
BYU is favored by 7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -350. The total is set at 171 points.
Here’s my BYU vs. Kansas State prediction and college basketball picks for January 3, 2026.
BYU vs Kansas State Prediction, Pick
My Pick: Over 171 (Play to 172.5)
My BYU vs Kansas State best bet is on the over. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
BYU vs. Kansas State Odds, Betting Lines, Spread, Over/Under
| BYU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 171 -110 / -110 | -350 |
| Kansas State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 171 -110 / -110 | +275 |
- BYU vs Kansas State spread: BYU -7.5
- BYU vs Kansas State over/under: 171 points
- BYU vs Kansas State moneyline: BYU -350, Kansas State +275
BYU vs Kansas State College Basketball Game Preview
BYU Basketball Betting Preview
AJ Dybantsa has been as good as advertised, and his metrics give all the correct indicators that he'll be the No. 1 pick in next year‘s NBA draft.
BYU has lost just once, a two-point defeat at the hands of UConn in Boston, MA. Outside of that one hiccup, the Cougars have been as dominant a team as we've seen in college basketball.
The Cougars' schedule has been a bit mediocre (94th overall in strength of schedule). Their road will soon get much tougher as they head into conference play, with matchups against TCU, Texas Tech, Arizona, Houston and Baylor all looming.
This team loves to push at an up-tempo pace, ranking 26th in average possession length before a shot attempt. They also mix a balance of 3-point attempts with the dominance of Dybantsa.
Dybantsa's great play is also aided by Richie Saunders and Robert Wright III, who both pour in 16+ points per game.
Kansas State Basketball Betting Preview
Kansas State is a couple of years removed from its improbable Final Four run, and this program hasn't been able to replicate that success.
The Wildcats lost four straight games to Nebraska, Indiana, Bowling Green and Seton Hall and don't have a quality win on their schedule this season.
They struggle to create opportunities off of turnovers and lose the free-throw battle on a nightly basis. Their strength actually lies at the 3-point line, where they rank ninth, hitting 39.9% from beyond the arc. However, they continually struggle to create those shots.
Kansas State isn't in a position to be looking ahead to anyone, but hosting BYU in a game before it heads to Arizona might be a little daunting.
The one thing I love about Kansas State is that it plays just as fast as BYU.
How To Bet My BYU vs. Kansas State Picks
We have two high-tempo teams, so I expect this to be a back-and-forth affair.
If Kansas State can find the opportunities to shoot the long ball, it'll have more than enough to stay within the number.
But this comes down to the future No. 1 pick, and I don’t think anybody on Kansas State will be able to hang with him for 40 minutes.
The best route in this game is to take the over. It’s currently sitting at 171, and I won’t give a lot of room for interpretation because I do think this spread could get higher before tip-off.
If you can get anything under 172.5, take the over.
My Pick: Over 171 (Play to 172.5)
