The Kansas Jayhawks take on the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder, CO. Tip-off is set for 11 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Kansas is favored by 5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -220. The total is set at 156.5 points.
Here are my Kansas vs. Colorado predictions and college basketball picks for January 20, 2026.
Kansas vs Colorado Prediction
My Pick: Kansas -5 (Play to -5.5)
My Kansas vs Colorado best bet is on the Jayhawks to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Kansas vs. Colorado Odds
| Kansas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -110 | 156.5 -110o / -110u | -220 |
| Colorado Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -110 | 156.5 -110o / -110u | +180 |
- Kansas vs Colorado spread: Kansas -5
- Kansas vs Colorado over/under: 156.5 points
- Kansas vs Colorado moneyline: Kansas -220, Colorado +180
Kansas vs Colorado College Basketball Betting Preview
Kansas Basketball
Kansas comes into the matchup at 13-5 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12 after two dominant wins against Iowa State and Baylor.
In Big 12 play, Kansas has the third best offensive efficiency behind Arizona and Houston. The Jayhawks really found an offensive rhythm in their back-to-back wins, led by Darryn Peterson.
Kansas will need every bit of Peterson's offensive production on the road. In four away games, Peterson is averaging 22 points per game while shooting 45% from 3.
Another player who's performed well on the road for Kansas is firecracker Melvin Council Jr. The guard averages 17.5 points per game on 43/38/76 shooting splits away from Allen Fieldhouse. In comparison, he averages 11 points per game on 39/31/76 splits at home.
Flory Bidunga had a big game against Baylor in every aspect, which was great to see. Bidunga is the main reason why Kansas has the No. 1 block rate in the Big 12, and the Jayhawks are now playing a Colorado team that could struggle to shoot around the rim with Bidunga and Bryson Tiller's rim protection.
Colorado Basketball
Colorado is 12-6 overall and 2-3 in the Big 12. The Buffs are currently on a three-game skid.
They're led by Isaiah Johnson, who leads the team in scoring (15.8 PPG) despite coming off the bench. Johnson has scored in double figures in eight straight games, and Colorado will be looking for him to provide a big spark for its offense if it wants to upset Kansas.
Colorado is in the middle of the pack of the Big 12 when it comes to defense, but it does have the best 3-point defense in the Big 12 (27%).
The one thing Colorado has that Kansas doesn't is depth. The Buffaloes have a nine-man rotation and rely on their depth to keep them in ball games.
Barrington Hargress is a 6-foot-1 guard who's scored in double figures in eight of their last nine games while leading the team in assists with 4.7 per night.
Colorado is only shooting 30.8% from 3 in conference play, but look out for Sebastian Rancik, who's a 6-foot-11 stretch big. In Colorado's two-point loss to Texas Tech, Rancik had 13 points on 3-of-6 from 3.
If he can knock a couple down and pull Kansas' rim protection out of the paint, the Buffaloes will have a chance to pull off the upset.
Kansas vs. Colorado Betting Analysis
I've been going back and forth on my prediction for this game. Do I want to tail a Colorado team that's dropped three in a row, or a Kansas team that's 0-3 on the road this season?
As much as I would love to bet the underdog here, Kansas is showing me signs of life. Bidunga is coming off a dominant game and Peterson and Council thrive on the road.
Oh, and the last time Tre White had a bad shooting night (vs UCF), he followed it up with a 22-point performance.
The Jayhawks are rolling right now, and I'm along for the ride.
My Pick: Kansas -5 (Play to -5.5)
