Kansas vs. Kansas State odds: Early point spread released on Jayhawks, Wildcats

This year’s version of the Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and Kansas State carries more hype than it has in quite some time. With the Jayhawks have undergone a transformation from Big 12 bottom dweller to top 25 team under coach Lance Leipold and hope to have a chance to snap a 14-game losing streak against the Wildcats.

That won’t be easy, however, with KSU tied for second in the Big 12 standings and having won three of its last four games. Vegas is expecting it to be a tightly contests game, with Kansas State opening as 7.5-point favorites according to FanDuel.

Kansas was regularly the worst team in the Big 12 for the past decade-plus but has since turned things around in the past two years. After going 6-7 a year ago to reach a bowl game, the Jayhawks are already 7-3 so far this season to mark the most games they won since 2008.

They had a big upset against then-No. 6 Oklahoma in Week 9 to become bowl-eligible again and followed that up with a win against Iowa State the next week. Unfortunately, Kansas couldn’t keep that momentum rolling into this week as they fell 16-13 to Texas Tech on a last-second field goal on Saturday.

Already down starting quarterback Jalon Daniels, the Jayhawks suffered a huge loss early in the game when Jason Bean went down with injury. Third-string Cole Ballard stepped in but the offense couldn’t find its rhythm as he went 9-of-20 for 124 yards and an interception.

Bean’s status will be one to watch closely ahead of the matchup with Kansas State.

The Wildcats suffered a heartbreaking loss in overtime to Texas last week but bounced back with a dominant 59-25 win against Baylor on Saturday. The Wildcats continued to play both Will Howard and Avery Johnson at quarterback, though Howard took most of the reps.

He finished the game 19-of-29 passing for 235 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Even though Johnson attempted only five passes, one of them ended with a 28-yard touchdown to Garrett Oakley. It marked the third time in the past four weeks that KSU has scored 40 or more points.

Kansas State got the best against Kansas last season in another lopsided 47-27 win, but the Jayhawks will hope this can be the year they end the streak. Kickoff time for the game is set for 6 p.m. CT on Saturday in Lawrence.