The Kansas Jayhawks take on the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Mo. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN2.
Missouri is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -245. The total is set at 50.5 points.
Here’s my Kansas vs. Missouri prediction and college football picks for Saturday, September 6, 2025.
Kansas vs Missouri Prediction
- Kansas vs. Missouri Pick: Over 50.5 (-115, DraftKings)
My Missouri vs. Kansas best bet is on the Over. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Kansas vs Missouri Odds
| Kansas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -105 | 50.5 -115o / -105u | +200 |
| Missouri Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -115 | 50.5 -115o / -105u | -245 |
- Kansas vs Missouri point spread: Missouri -6.5 (-115), Kansas +6.5 (-105)
- Kansas vs Missouri over/under: 50.5 (-115o / -105u)
- Kansas vs Missouri moneyline: Kansas +200, Missouri -245
Kansas vs Missouri Preview
Kansas Jayhawks Betting Preview: Daniels' Fitness the Key for Jayhawks
It is a 2-0 start for the Kansas Jayhawks in dominating fashion, outscoring their opponents 77-14 in the first two weeks. Now they travel across the border to Missouri, where they will take on an SEC team in the regular season for the first time since 1988.
For the past six years, Kansas has gone as far as Jalon Daniels (and his health) can take them. When he is on the field, he is one of the most dangerous dual threats in college football. Daniels has started his season nearly perfectly. He has completed 80% of his passes for seven touchdowns and has also added 65 yards on the ground.
Star running back Devin Neal is off to the NFL, but successor Daniel Hishaw Jr. has averaged 5.9 yards per carry as the new lead back. Iowa transfer Leshon Williams is expected to split carries with him, but he missed last week with a hand injury.
Alabama transfer Emmanuel Henderson and Ball State transfer Cam Pickett have emerged as the two leading targets through two weeks, each posting multi-touchdown games. Even against some weaker competition, this offense is humming in the first season under Jim Zebrowski, averaging 7.5 yards per play.
The defense was an issue for the Jayhawks last year, as they slipped to 106th nationally in Success Rate allowed. They will rely on returning production along the defensive line, but a mostly rebuilt back seven.
Edge rusher Dean Miller is back after leading the team in sacks last season. He missed the season opener with an injury but returned last week in limited action, playing just 22 snaps. They need him to be back at full strength up front.
At the next level, all three starting linebackers are transfers, and they have a portal pick up starting at one of the cornerback and safety positions. Injuries are already beginning to mount for the Jayhawks, though. Linebackers Bangally Kamara, Jayson Gilliom, and Joseph Sipp Jr. are all injured. Kamara definitely won’t play, and the other two are questionable as well.
Missouri Tigers Betting Preview: Pribula Earns Starting QB Spot
Week 1 was supposed to be a quarterback competition between Beau Pribula and Sam Horn, but an extended injury to Horn has left no doubt that Pribula is the starting quarterback.
The Penn State transfer was the favorite to win the job anyway, especially after a 49-yard touchdown pass on his first attempt as a Tiger.
Pribula finished the day going 23-for-28 for 283 yards and two touchdown passes, while also showcasing his rushing abilities with 65 yards and two touchdowns. Missouri spread the ball around with nine players catching a pass in the 61-6 blowout, but Kevin Coleman (6-48) and Marquis Johnson (5-134-1) saw the most action.
The Tigers might have an underrated star in their backfield in running back Ahmad Hardy. The UL Monroe transfer rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns last season in the Sun Belt as a freshman before transferring to Missouri. He ran for 100 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries in his debut in back and gold.
Missouri’s defense was good, but not great, last season. They were a top 50 unit in Success Rate and should be even better this season. The Tigers return seven starters and add some terrific transfer pieces in Big 12 Freshman of the Year Josiah Trotter from West Virginia and All-Mountain West safety Jalen Catalon from UNLV.
They have depth up front and should have a strong front seven, but the pass defense was a bit shaky last season. Missouri ranked 77th in PFF’s Coverage Grade last year and gave up too many big plays through the air.
Kansas vs Missouri Pick, Betting Analysis
While it is likely not the first rivalry you think of when you are talking about big college football matchups, do not sleep on the Kansas-Missouri Border War. This used to be one of the most heated rivalries in the sport. Conference realignment has resulted in these two teams not meeting since 2011, a Missouri win that gave them a 56-55-9 record in the series.
Both of these teams have started the season against inferior competition, but regardless of the quality of defenses, both offenses have come out of the gates like a well-oiled machine. Kansas has averaged 7.5 yards per play through its first two games, and Missouri topped 8.1 yards per play in its season opener.
Daniels and Pribula each looked poised and were accurate and in rhythm early, while also showing off the ability to pick up chunk plays. Both of these quarterbacks are extremely mobile and able to keep the chains moving with their legs and extend drives. In the red zone, teams will have to respect the quarterbacks’ rushing ability as much as anything, giving the offensive coordinators plenty of ways to finish drives.
The Kansas defense was a mess last season. The Jayhawks ranked near the bottom of the Big 12 in every major defensive category. They gave up way too many explosive plays. The defense looked fine against two inferior opponents, but now it takes a big step up in competition and will do it shorthanded.
Their best pass rusher has been nursing an early-season injury and has played just 22 snaps. All three of Kansas' linebackers are hurt and unlikely to play in this game. The only healthy area is the secondary, and that was the biggest weakness entering the year. Kansas didn’t return a single starter in the secondary and will likely struggle to prevent big plays.
I expect both offenses to move the ball effectively with their quarterbacks’ arms and legs, and I also expect both teams to hit a few explosives. Bet the total to go over in the Border War on Saturday afternoon.
Pick: Over 50.5 (-115, DraftKings | Play to 52)
