Cincinnati Bearcats vs Kansas Jayhawks Prediction, Odds and Picks for Tomorrow, 02/22/26

Kansas will look to hold off a surging Cincinnati team on Saturday as the Jayhawks hope that star guard Darryn Peterson is fully healthy. Peterson saw just a couple of minutes in the second half against Oklahoma State due to cramping, but there doesn’t appear to be any restrictions heading into this matchup. Despite seeing only 3 minutes in the second half, Peterson still dropped 23 points, a stat that Bill Self will be hoping to see again from his star player.

Kansas enters this matchup as hefty favorites, and for good reason. They’ve been far more consistent in conference play this season compared to the Bearcats, posting an 11-1 home record this season, while Cincinnati has struggled away from home, going just 1-6 on the road. Defensively, the Bearcats hold a slight edge on paper, allowing 67 points per game compared to Kansas’s 68. However, we’ve seen this Bearcats team struggle against elite competition, and that trend could continue on Saturday. The Bearcats are shooting just 42.8% from the floor this season, while Kansas is making 47.1% of its shots. Defensively, the Jayhawks are holding opponents to just 38.4% shooting, compared to 41.1% allowed by Cincinnati. 

Baba Miller will look to control the glass for the Bearcats, but that won’t be against Flory Bidunga and the Jayhawks’ frontcourt. Kansas’s ability to dictate tempo, defend efficiently, and limit easy scoring opportunities should allow them to pull away late. Free-throw shooting could also loom large, as Cincinnati is making just 67.5% at the line this season, while Kansas is knocking down 76.6%. With their depth, size, and home-court advantage, look for the Jayhawks to wear down Cincinnati and make it a long afternoon for the Bearcats.

Cincinnati vs Kansas prediction: Kansas -10.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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