Baylor Bears vs Kansas State Wildcats Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 02/17/26

It’s a new look for the Kansas State Wildcats as they fired head coach Jerome Tang on Sunday. Interim coach Matthew Driscoll now takes over with one goal in mind – stabilize this team and finish the season with some momentum. The Wildcats enter this matchup on a six-game losing streak, averaging just 64.2 points per game while allowing 82.2. Baylor hasn’t played much better, losing three straight and seven of its last nine. In Big 12 play, Kansas State sits at 1-11, while the Bears are 3-9. It’s a battle between two teams desperate for traction, but I think the edge sits with the Wildcats. 

Despite the recent struggles, Kansas State has the offensive talent to keep this game close, and leading the charge is PJ Haggerty with 23.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. The Wildcats recently faced a gauntlet of elite defensive teams – including Houston, Cincinnati, Iowa State, West Virginia, and Kansas – all ranking among the top defensive teams in the Big 12. Baylor’s defense ranks 10th in the Big 12, allowing 76.1 points per game, which could offer Kansas State some much-needed breathing room offensively. The bigger concern for the Wildcats is on the defensive end, where they rank 15th in the league, allowing 80.7 points per game. Slowing down Cameron Carr, who is averaging 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds, will be critical. Another thing the Wildcats need to limit is the number of turnovers. Baylor is just 2-5 on the road this season, while Kansas State is 8-7 at home. With a coaching change and home crowd advantage, this is a good spot for the Wildcats to bounce back. Look for Haggerty to get going offensively and for Driscoll to make a few changes defensively for the Wildcats and keep this game close. 

Baylor vs Kansas State prediction: Kansas State +4 (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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