Missouri and Kansas are set to continue their rivalry series on Friday night at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. The No. 25 ranked Missouri Tigers enter the matchup as 5.5-point road favorites.
Both teams secured decisive victories in their Week 1 contests. Kansas defeated LIU with a score of 51-6, while Missouri bested Arkansas-Pine Bluff 54-14.
The betting line for the game opened with Missouri as a 6.5-point favorite and has since shifted slightly in favor of Kansas. This movement may be partly attributed to the potential absence of Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy, who led the SEC with 1,649 rushing yards in the 2025 season and is still recovering from a gunshot wound sustained in May. Even if Hardy plays, his impact is uncertain in his first game back after a lengthy recovery.
Should Hardy be unavailable or limited, the offensive load will fall to quarterback Austin Simmons. Simmons, who transferred from Ole Miss after being sidelined by an injury last season, possesses significant big-play ability but has also shown a propensity for errors. If Missouri's coaching staff can refine Simmons' performance, the Tigers could become a formidable force, especially with Hardy's eventual return.
Missouri's offense benefits from an experienced offensive line, and the Kansas defense is not expected to be a strong unit. These factors suggest Missouri should be able to score effectively in the game. However, the Jayhawks' defense may present challenges for inexperienced quarterbacks.
On the other side, Kansas's offense faces a tougher challenge against Missouri's defense. Despite personnel changes, the core of the Tigers' defensive unit is considered strong on paper. Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon has guided the Missouri defense effectively in his two seasons. This could make for a difficult night for Kansas's less experienced quarterback, Isaiah Marshall.
Betting Prediction
The prediction favors Missouri to cover the 5.5-point spread, with odds of -110 at DraftKings.