After 13 Years, Kansas Is Finally Favored Over Power 5 Program in Matchup vs. Duke

The Kansas Jayhawks face the Duke Blue Devils this weekend … and the topic isn't Coach K or Jon Scheyer's backcourt. We're talking college football!

For both Kansas and Duke, 2022 has been historic. For the first time in college football history, college hoop powers Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Duke have all started the season 3-0.

But for the Jayhawks this week, history has a whole new meaning.

Kansas is currently listed as a 7.5-point favorite at home against Duke, the first time they've been favored over a Power 5 program since Nov. 7, 2009, when Kansas was a 1.5-point favorite over Kansas State, according to Bet Labs.

The closest Kansas has gotten to being a favored since then came back in 2018 against Rutgers. The Jayhawks opened as 3-point favorites, but ended up closing as an underdog against the Scarlet Knights.

Since Kansas' game against Kansas State back in 2009, the Jayhawks have played an amazing 117 consecutive games as underdogs against Power 5 opponents, going 50-67 (42.7%) against the spread.

A $100 bettor tailing Kansas to cover the spread vs. Power 5 opponents in that span would have lost $1,987. Of the 224 schools to play a Power 5 school since Nov. 7, 2009, Kansas is the third-worst team against the spread.

Entering this week against Duke, the Jayhawks have actually covered the spread in five consecutive games dating back to last season, their longest ATS winning streak since covering 10 in a row all the way back in 2007.

Prior to Kansas' current five-game ATS win streak, the Jayhawks were a putrid 2-14-1 ATS in their previous seventeen games.

Truly a new era in Lawrence, Kansas.