Kansas Jayhawks vs West Virginia Mountaineers Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 01/10/26

Kansas is ranked, but the number next to the name is doing more heavy lifting than the résumé. The Jayhawks already have four losses and have spent much of the season surviving rather than separating — two overtime escapes, including a one-point thriller at NC State, plus most recently a narrow four-point win over TCU. And when KU has stepped up in class against true national powers like North Carolina, Duke, and UConn, they didn’t simply lose — they got handled. That raises the question: is Kansas actually a Top 25 team, or are they being graded on brand?

West Virginia is unranked, but they’re not inferior. In fact, the Mountaineers could easily be sitting in Kansas’ exact position with slightly different late-game outcomes. WVU lost in overtime to Ohio State by one and suffered a brutal last-possession loss to Clemson in a game they largely controlled. Flip those results and West Virginia’s record shines and they are likely ranked. Flip Kansas’ OT wins into OT losses and the Jayhawks are unranked and a dog here. Now add in the scheduling spot: undefeated #3 Iowa State comes to Lawrence next. That’s a marquee game that can pull focus, even subconsciously. Meanwhile WVU has already won the last two meetings and will not be out-motivated by a “revenge” narrative. This sets up as a live dog with real value in a game they can win outright.

Kansas vs West Virginia prediction: West Virginia +4.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to +4

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