Kansas vs Nevada odds, picks and predictions | NCAAF Betting Preview (Saturday, September 16)

Kansas vs Nevada Odds

The penultimate game of Week 3 takes us to the Sierra Nevada foothills as the Nevada Wolf Pack hosts the Kansas Jayhawks in a non-conference matchup.

Kansas burst onto the scene last Friday when it beat Illinois, 34-23, in a game that was much more spectacular than the final score would suggest.

Speaking of explosions, that’s been the story for Nevada early this season…and not in a good way.

This nighttime matchup should tell us a lot about both teams. The Jayhawks look like a dark Big 12 contender after two games, and another win would keep the momentum going.

Meanwhile, the Wolf Pack needs a win to get the season back on track.

Let’s move on to the odds for Kansas vs. Nevada and let’s look for a pick in this NCAAF betting preview for Saturday, September 16.

Kansas has the look of a Big 12 title contender, and no, I’m not talking about the men’s basketball team.

OK, that was a little ironic considering how Texas and Oklahoma have played, but there’s no doubt that the Jayhawks look like an eight-win (or so) team this year.

Taking a 34-7 lead over Illinois was a big statement for Kansas. He went up and down the field with ease against a fairly talented Illini defense, and that should be really encouraging for the Jayhawks’ prospects throughout the season.

Quarterback Jalon Daniels played very well with 277 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the win, but what really stood out was his playmaking ability.

He’s a shifty runner, which makes him incredibly difficult to tackle in the backfield, and that frees him up to throw on the run when the play breaks down.

Just look at his arm strength and ball placement on this pitch against Illinois.

Not every quarterback can do that.

Fortunately for the Jayhawks, Daniels doesn’t need to play like Superman every game because he can rely on a running game that averages 6.2 yards per carry. Lawrence native Devin Neal leads the way with 213 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 23 carries.

Although Kansas’ defense hasn’t been as good as the offense, it does a good job of creating chaos as it ranks second in the Havoc.

A player to watch on the Jayhawks defense is Jereme Robinson, who already has three sacks this season.

Nevada may be the worst FBS team.

It’s one thing to get defeated by USC, 66-14. That kind of scoring will likely happen to some of the Trojans’ Pac-12 opponents this year. The real worry is getting beat by FCS Idaho, 33-6, at home.

The red flags around this team are so large that they are visible from outer space. Every one of Nevada’s advanced offensive metrics ranks 113th or worse, and the Wolf Pack’s defensive stats tell the same story.

Nevada quarterback Brendon Lewis has struggled, completing 56.6% of his passes for 286 yards and a pick through two games. He could delve into more individual stats, but there’s really nothing of note, illustrating the dire position the Wolf Pack finds itself in.

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Toggle the dropdown menus below to hide or show how Kansas and Nevada match up statistically:

Kansas Offense vs. Nevada Defense

Hasty success	25	117
Yards of line	8	75
Past events	7	132
Havoc	36	107
Finishing units	54	109
Quality units	10	133

Nevada Offense vs. Kansas Defense

Hasty success	119	82
Yards of line	114	121
Past events	123	70
Havoc	119	2
Finishing units	128	132
Quality units	113	60

Pace of play/Other

Approach to PFF	80	126
FFP coverage	46	130
SP+ Special Equipment	4	120
Medium 8	19	116
Seconds per play	30.4 (120)	27.6 (78)
Rush rate	59.0% (22)	46.7% (95)

It’s hard to imagine this game being anything other than a blowout win for Kansas. Betting markets see it that way too, with most sportsbooks listing the Jayhawks as 28-point road favorites.

I can’t argue with that, especially after Nevada lost at home to an FCS team by 27 points last week. The Wolf Pack has problems all over the place, and a Kansas team that feels good about itself should be able to make this ugly.

FanDuel has the Jayhawks favored by 27.5 points, so get them to that number if you can. Otherwise, stick with Kansas as a 28-point favorite.

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