Duke vs Kansas odds, players to watch in unlikely battle of college football unbeatens
Given their collective recent histories, Duke and Kansas meeting in a battle of unbeaten football teams qualifies as a major surprise.
Yet that will be the case when the Blue Devils and Jayhawks clash Saturday at noon in Lawrence, Kansas.
Both 3-0 this season, Duke and Kansas combined to go 5-19 last season. The last time Kansas posted a winning record was 2008, which is also the last time the Jayhawks had more than one Big 12 Conference win in a season.
Duke has only won one ACC game over the last two seasons while going 5-18 overall.
None of that matters this season thus far.
Kansas already owns a league win, having defeated West Virginia, 55-42, on the road on Sept. 10. The Jayhawks followed that up winning, 48-30, at Houston on Saturday.
Averaging 53 points per game thus far, the Jayhawks are a betting favorite to beat Duke and start 4-0. This is the first time Kansas is favored over a Power Five opponent since 2009.
“They’ve been able to run the ball really well up into this point,” Duke coach Mike Elko said. “They’ve got a tremendous dual threat quarterback. What they’re doing on offense is extremely challenging. They’re averaging over 50 points a game. So we’ve got our hands full with that side of the ball.
Duke beat Kansas, 52-33, at Wallace Wade Stadium last season in what proved to be the final win of David Cutcliffe’s coaching tenure with the Blue Devils.
Elko replaced Cutcliffe last December and the Blue Devils have already reached last season’s win total.
Three Duke players to watch
Riley Leonard, QB: Second in the ACC in completion percentage (72.7%) with five touchdown throws. Added two rushing touchdowns against N.C. A&T on Saturday night.
Jordan Moore, WR: Has a touchdown catch in all three Duke games this season. Leads the Blue Devils with 13 catches. All from a sophomore who moved from quarterback to wide receiver last month.
Jaylen Stinson, DB: Second on the team in tackles with 21, including 13 solo stops. Has one of Duke’s five forced fumbles this season.
Three Kansas players to watch
Jalon Daniels, QB: The 6-foot junior is a dual-threat for Duke to contend with on Saturday. Daniels has thrown for seven touchdowns, with just one interception, and rushed for three scores. He averages 8.78 yards per rushing attempt. He’s completed 67.1% of his passes.
Devin Neal, RB: Tied for the team lead with four rushing touchdowns. He’s gained 204 rushing yards, averaging a healthy 7.29 yards per carry.
Lonnie Phelps, DE: Has five tackles for loss, including three sacks, in three games to lead the Jayhawks.
Vegas betting odds
Kansas opened as a 9.5-point favorite over Duke but that number dropped to 7 by Thursday. The over-under total is 65.5 points.
Duke at Kansas game and TV info
Who: Duke (3-0) vs. Kansas (3-0)
Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas
When: Noon, Saturday
TV: FS1
Stream: foxsports.com
This story was originally published September 19, 2022 at 7:10 AM with the headline "Duke vs Kansas odds, players to watch in unlikely battle of college football unbeatens."