Kansas vs. Missouri: How to watch, odds, predictions from ESPN, KenPom

Kansas and Missouri are in the second season of the rekindled Border War rivalry on the basketball court. With Kansas having faltered early and Missouri out to a 9-0 start, this game should be an absolute barn burner. For all of the relevant info — TV channel, tip time, point spreads, predictions, etc. — check out below:

How to watch

Tip-off: 5:15 p.m. ET, 4:15 p.m. CT

Location: Columbia, Missouri

Channel: ESPN

Vegas odds

Every single book involved in the Vegas Insider Consensus has Kansas listed as a 3.5-point favorite over Missouri in CoMo.

ESPN BPI Prediction

Predicted winner: Kansas

Predicted point differential: 1.9

Win probability: 56.7%

Matchup quality: 88.2

KenPom Prediction

Predicted final score: 80-77 Kansas

Win probability: 61%

More on Kansas-Missouri

A year ago, the administrations at Kansas and Missouri did the people’s work by bringing back the annual Border War — the name for this little hoops rivalry between the Tigers and Jayhawks. Kansas won in dominant fashion, 102-65, in the first edition of the game since Missouri left the Big 12 (well, there was that preseason scrimmage with the Michael Porter Jr. team, but that doesn’t really count, does it?) However, this year’s matchup should be much more exhilarating and actually close down the stretch. At least, that’s what the computer projections just told you, right?

With Missouri at home and currently boasting KenPom’s No. 12 offense in the country, Kansas isn’t walking into a picnic. First-year head coach Dennis Gates borrows a lot from former Loyola Marymount legend Paul Westhead. He has his band of misfit transfers sprinting up and down the court, leading the nation in points and steals per game, as well as transition points. These Tigers bite on defense and attack in transition like they’re shot out of a cannon.

So does Kansas stand a chance? Sure. Missouri, while prolific, is still messy. They’ve been able to loosen up against smaller-conference teams but let Wichita State hang around a little too long the first time they faced a real opponent.

Either the country learns about Missouri this evening or Kansas proves that their start was just a fluke. Game of the Day at 5:15 ET.