Kansas vs. Michigan State odds: Current line, win probability, final score prediction, how to watch

No. 1 Kansas vs. Michigan State will be the opening game in the Champions Classic tonight in Atlanta.

Both the Jayhawks and Spartans have new-looking rosters coming into this season. Still, each will be coached by long-time legends in Bill Self and Tom Izzo with expectations there for each to once again be well in the bracket come the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas, the top-ranked team in the nation, is 2-0 following a 30-point win over Howard as well as a 92-89 victory over North Carolina in a Top-10 matchup last week. The Tar Heels made a second-half comeback inside Allen Fieldhouse but the Jayhawks, led by 21 points from Zeke Mayo and an inside presence led by a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double from Hunter Dickinson, managed to hold on for the three-point win.

Michigan State, although being unrated coming into this season, is also at 2-0 after a 24-point win over Monmouth and a 36-point win over Niagara. The Spartans’ top stories so far have been a pair of developed upperclassmen are now leading them in production with Jaden Akins (16.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg., 3.5 apg. on 56.5% FG) and Jaxon Kohler (12.5 ppg., 10 rpg. on 58.8% FG).

Here’s how the game looks ahead of tip-off against one another tonight in The A:

Odds for Kansas vs. Michigan State

Per the lines at FanDuel, Kansas is a 6.5-point favorite at that neutral site over Michigan State. That has Sparty at (+220) on the moneyline.

The over-under for the game is then set at 150.5 points.

Final score predictions for Kansas vs. Michigan State

BPI Predicted winner: Kansas
BPI Predicted point differential: 3.3
BPI Win probability (for Kansas): 63%
BPI Matchup Quality: 92.3

ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) is slightly leaning towards Kansas. Its point differential is by just over a three-point bucket while its win probability is right at 63%.

It’s also the second highest-rated matchup of the entire slate in college basketball tonight in its matchup quality metric after only No. 19 Kentucky vs. No. 6 Duke in the second game of the Champions Classic.

KenPom Predicted final score: Kansas 78, Michigan State 73
KenPom Win probability (for Kansas): 66%

KenPom, which has this as a Top-40 matchup in its own ratings, has Kansas as well with a five-point margin at a probability of 66%.

How to watch Kansas vs. Michigan State

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, Georgia)

Kansas and Michigan State are among the best programs in all of college basketball. Still, 3-0 and a higher ranking will only be there for one of them after tonight following their game in one of the sport’s biggest season-opening events on ESPN.