The UCF Knights take on the Kansas State Wildcats in Manhattan, KS. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Kansas State is favored by 2 points on the spread with a moneyline of -130. The total is set at 170.5 points.
Here’s my UCF vs. Kansas State predictions and college basketball picks for January 14, 2026.
UCF vs Kansas State Prediction
My Pick: Kansas State ML -130
My UCF vs Kansas State best bet is on the Wildcats to win outright. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
UCF vs. Kansas State Odds
| UCF Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2 -110 | 170.5 -110o / -110u | +110 |
| Kansas State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2 -110 | 170.5 -110o / -110u | -130 |
- UCF vs Kansas State spread: Kansas State -2
- UCF vs Kansas State over/under: 170.5 points
- UCF vs Kansas State moneyline: UCF +110, Kansas State -130
UCF vs Kansas State College Basketball Betting Preview
UCF Basketball
UCF has started the season by repeatedly defying expectations.
The Knights were picked to finish 14th in the Big 12 in the preseason coaches poll (and was closer to finishing last than 13th).
The Knights overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half to beat Texas A&M on the road by 12. They defeated Kansas in the conference opener, despite Darryn Peterson going off for 26 points in 23 minutes.
But at this point in the season, there aren’t many unknowns left. UCF can’t sneak up on anyone anymore, and the Knights have underperformed in three of their last four games (with the lone exception being the victory against Kansas).
UCF has won consecutive conference games just twice in its two years as a member of the Big 12. The Knights have won three of four conference games just once in that same span.
With a win on Wednesday, UCF would be defying expectations once again by achieving both of those feats that have been few and far between since joining the elite conference.
Kansas State Basketball
Kansas State was an extremely volatile team last season.
Even in their worst season under Jerome Tang, the Wildcats finished 9-11 in conference play. Kansas State always finds a way to finish in the middle of the pack in the Big 12, and in all likelihood, it'll end up there this season again.
The Wildcats have a consistent factor that anchors those middle-of-the-pack finishes, too – the home-court advantage of Bramlage Coliseum.
Kansas State’s home records over the last three seasons have been as follows: 16-1, 14-3, 10-5. Naturally, as the team has performed worse overall, the home victories have decreased, but even in the Wildcats’ 26-10 season (one that featured an Elite Eight appearance), they were awful on the road (4-7).
Kansas State is 20-9 ATS in home conference games during Tang’s time with the Wildcats. When the Wildcats play at Bramlage, they typically find ways to win.
This season hasn’t been ideal so far, but even in a game against BYU — where the Wildcats were completely overmatched — they kept it relatively close. A return home should help Kansas State get back on track, as it seemingly always does.
UCF vs. Kansas State Betting Analysis
I'm picking Kansas State to win outright in this game.
If you want to take the extra risk on Kansas State to cover, it’s a tight enough that the spread is a good pick as well.
However, be wary of the Knights, who've played five games this season with final scores within two-possession margins, including a one-point win over Cincinnati in their most recent game.
Kansas State seems to always level up around this time of the season, and UCF only has four conference road wins in its two years as a member of the Big 12, including a 77-52 loss in its only trip to Bramlage Coliseum (during the 2023-24 season). That gives me a fair amount of confidence that the Wildcats will take this one.
My Pick: Kansas State ML -130
