The Cincinnati Bearcats take on the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kansas. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. EDT on TNT.
Kansas is favored by 4.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -200. The total is set at 56.5 points.
Here’s my Cincinnati vs. Kansas prediction and college football picks for Saturday, September 27, 2025.
Cincinnati vs Kansas Prediction
- Cincinnati vs. Kansas Pick: Kansas -4.5 (-110, bet365)
My Kansas vs. Cincinnati best bet is on the Jayhawks to cover. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Cincinnati vs Kansas Odds
| Cincinnati Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -110 | 56.5 -110o / -110u | +165 |
| Kansas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -110 | 56.5 -110o / -110u | -200 |
- Cincinnati vs Kansas point spread: Kansas -4.5 (-110), Cincinnati +4.5 (-110)
- Cincinnati vs Kansas over/under: 56.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Cincinnati vs Kansas moneyline: Cincinnati +165, Kansas -200
Cincinnati vs Kansas Preview
Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Preview
Cincinnati is still an unknown team at this point in the season.
With a bye last week, the Bearcats have only played three games. One of the wins was a 70-point victory over FCS Northwestern State, and the other was a methodical 34-20 home victory over Bowling Green.
The loss occurred in the season opener against Nebraska on a neutral field, a game where Cincinnati had a chance late to tie or take the lead, but turned it over.
Cincinnati feels like a middle-of-the-pack Big 12 team, but the Bearcats have an opportunity to make a statement and secure a road victory to begin their conference campaign.
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby has been around for a long time and is a steady player with limited upside.
The Bearcats have had success rushing the football, most notably going for 200-plus yards on the ground against a formidable Nebraska defense.
Facing a Kansas defense that has its fair share of holes, Cincinnati should have opportunities to move the ball methodically down the field and get itself into scoring territory.
Turning those red zone trips into touchdowns will be very important given the Jayhawks' offensive firepower.
This will be far and away the best offense the Bearcats have faced this season, so it will be a good litmus test of where this unit stands.
Given the dual-threat nature of Jalon Daniels, the Cincinnati front seven will need to be disciplined in their blitzing angles and keep him inside the pocket.
I expect Scott Satterfield to try to slow this game down a bit, draining the clock when the Bearcats have the ball to try to disrupt the rhythm of Daniels and company.
Kansas Jayhawks Betting Preview
The Jayhawks are one 4th-down stop at Missouri away from entering this matchup 4-0 and ranked in the top 20 nationally.
Credit to Missouri, which made that final play. Still, it's been a positive start to the year for Kansas.
Lance Leipold's team had a bye week after the loss in the Border War and then bounced back last week with a 41-10 demolition of West Virginia. It also handled Fresno State and Wagner with ease in early non-conference games.
A main reason for the early success? The play of veteran quarterback Jalon Daniels.
Daniels has been dynamic and a highlight reel since he first set foot in Lawrence four years ago. But this year, he's really showing his experience.
He's thrown 12 touchdowns to just two interceptions, and Daniels is making the right reads and decisions in all the big moments.
For Kansas to threaten for a Big 12 title game appearance, Daniels and the Jayhawk offense will need to stay healthy and continue to perform at a high level.
That is because there are some concerns about the Jayhawks on the defensive side of the ball.
In the game against Missouri, which is really the only explosive offense Kansas has faced thus far, the Tigers amassed nearly 600 yards of total offense.
Last week's performance was much more encouraging, as Kansas held West Virginia to just 142 passing yards while forcing two turnovers.
Cincinnati does not have anywhere near the weapons that Missouri has, so this should be another game in which the Jayhawks can hold their own and get some timely stops.
Cincinnati vs Kansas Pick, Betting Analysis
I was bullish on this Jayhawk team in the offseason and bet on them to win over 7.5 games at plus money.
I'm not changing my mind now.
Kansas has the more explosive offense, the better head coach, and home-field advantage.
I don't think Cincinnati has the playmakers to expose a mediocre Kansas defense, and nobody has stopped Daniels and the Kansas offense all year.
Cincinnati will score its fair share, but it won't be enough to keep pace with a Jayhawk offensive attack that can beat you in many different ways.
Give me Kansas to win and cover on Saturday.
Pick: Kansas -4.5 (-110, bet365)
