Missouri vs. Kansas prediction, odds, time: 2026 Week 2 college football picks by proven model — SkimNews
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- Missouri Tigers are 5.5-point favorites over Kansas with a 51.5-point over/under for the 8 p.m. ET kickoff at Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.
- Missouri won last year's resumed rivalry meeting 42-31, the first game between the programs after a 14-season hiatus following Mizzou's departure to the SEC; the series dates to 1891.
- SportsLine's model, which simulates every FBS game 10,000 times and is on a 33-20 run on top-rated CFB money-line picks since 2024, projects the Under hitting 62% of the time at 43 combined points.
- Kansas limited Long Island University to 146 total yards in its Week 1 rout, while Missouri led Arkansas-Pine Bluff just 4-0 at halftime before reserves took over.
- Missouri's defense allowed only 20 points per game last season (19th nationally), and Kansas gave up just 24.7 ppg at home — defensive strength on both sides is the basis for the Under projection.
- The model has been upgraded for the 2026 season to better factor in transfer portal movement when evaluating teams.
Why it matters: The model's Under pick creates a clear 8.5-point gap with the market line of 51.5, and bettors weighing the spread and total get a data-driven counterweight to two high-scoring Week 1 box scores. With both defenses ranking among the nation's better units at home (Missouri 19th nationally last year) and both offenses yet to be tested against real competition, the model's 62% Under confidence rate gives bettors a specific edge grounded in Week 1 defensive performance.
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