Lindenwood vs. Kansas football final odds and predictions

Lance Leipold and the Kansas football team are set to kick off the 2024 campaign with a low-intensity contest against the FCS-level Lindenwood Lions. The Jayhawks will look to start off the season strong after a 9-4 finish last year, which included a postseason win in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs. UNLV.

While FCS teams have given Kansas trouble in the past — look at Nicholls State in 2018 or North Dakota State in 2013 — this is not the same program that it was years ago. KU is expected to compete for a top finish in the Big 12, which would give them a chance at making the new-look, 12-team College Football Playoff.

Lindenwood enters its third season in FCS after it went 3-7 in 2023. They are widely considered one of the worst teams in the league, being voted to finish in eighth place (out of nine schools) in the preseason Ohio Valley Conference coaches poll.

Let's take a look at the odds and our game predictions for tonight's outing.

Lindenwood vs. Kansas football odds

FanDuel Sportsbook set the official odds at 44.5 points in the Jayhawks' favor. While it is a massive line, the skill gap between the two teams is substantial. So, should you be betting against or for the crimson and blue?

Lindenwood vs. Kansas football predictions

Spreads like these are impossible to guess. For Kansas to hit this mark, they'd need to play an exceptional game. Lindenwood would have to have short possessions, mix in turnovers, and make very few (if any) defensive stops.

Last year, the Jayhawks struggled early on against FCS opponent Missouri State. They trailed early in the second quarter after a pair of turnovers. KU still pulled away for a big 31-point victory, but this is the first game of the season and there could be some evident rust, especially with QB Jalon Daniels who has not played since Week 4 last season.

Kansas will inevitably defeat Lindenwood in what should be a blowout. However, we're not completely bought into these odds. Kansas winning by 7+ possessions seems unlikely if they make some mistakes in the first couple of quarters.

Final Score: 45-14, Kansas