Kansas Jayhawks vs NC State Wolfpack Prediction and Picks - December 13, 2025
It's the Big 12C vs the ACC on Saturday evening, and we have a Kansas vs NC State prediction ready to rock and roll. Kansas enters this game off an 80-60 win over Missouri to move to 7-3 on the year. NC State comes in off an 85-45 home win over Liberty to move to 7-3 on the year, Kansas won last year's game at home by a score of 75-60. Continue reading to see our Kansas vs NC State prediction.
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Defense Stands Tall In Rout Of Missouri
Kansas’ most recent game was an 80–60 win over Missouri on December 7, where Tre White delivered a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds, and freshman Darryn Peterson added 17 in his return from injury. The Jayhawks shot 45.6% from the field and held Missouri to just 34.4%, showcasing their defensive identity. It was a bounce-back performance after a narrow loss to UConn, and it reinforced Bill Self’s reputation for getting his team locked in after setbacks.
Offensively, Kansas averages 74.6 points per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Peterson leads the team with 20 points per game and has quickly become their go-to scorer, while Flory Bidunga provides a strong interior presence with 14.7 points and 9 rebounds per game. White adds 14.3 points and 7.1 boards, giving Kansas a balanced trio of scorers. Senior guard Melvin Council chips in 10.7 points and leads the team in assists, helping to stabilize the backcourt. The Jayhawks aren’t the most explosive team, but they rely on efficiency and timely shot-making to grind out wins.
Defensively, Kansas has been elite, allowing just 63.7 points per game and holding opponents to 37.5% shooting. They rank among the nation’s best in three-point defense, limiting teams to just 24.9% from deep. Bidunga anchors the paint with 2.5 blocks per game, while the team collectively averages 6.4 rejections per contest. Kansas’ ability to control the glass (39.1 rebounds per game) and force opponents into tough looks has been the foundation of their success. Against NC State’s high-powered offense, the Jayhawks will lean on their defensive discipline to slow the pace.
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NC State Crushes Liberty
NC State’s most recent game was an 85–45 demolition of Liberty on December 10, where Ven-Allen Lubin and freshman Matt Able each scored 13 points. The Wolfpack shot 52% from the field and forced 17 turnovers, holding Liberty to just 35% shooting and 21% from three. It was their most dominant defensive performance of the season, and it extended their home record to 6–0.
Offensively, NC State has been one of the ACC’s most potent teams, averaging 89.2 points per game while shooting 50% from the field. Darrion Williams leads the way with 16.7 points per game, while Quadir Copeland adds 14.4 points and nearly 5 assists. Lubin has been a force inside, averaging 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds, and Paul McNeil contributes 12.2 points per game as a sophomore guard. The Wolfpack also shoot nearly 40% from three, making them dangerous from the perimeter. With five players averaging double figures, NC State has the depth to spread defenses thin.
Defensively, NC State allows 75.8 points per game, which has been their biggest vulnerability. Opponents shoot 43.5% against them, and they’ve struggled at times against high-major competition, dropping games to Auburn, Texas, and Seton Hall. Still, their ability to force turnovers (10.4 per game) and rebound effectively (35.6 boards per game) gives them a chance to disrupt opponents. Against Kansas, the Wolfpack will need to maintain the defensive intensity they showed against Liberty while relying on their balanced scoring attack to challenge the Jayhawks’ stingy defense.
Kansas vs NC State Pick
Kansas vs NC State Spread Pick
- Kansas +3.5 (4 Units)
Kansas catching +3.5 feels like value given how well they’ve been defending and the way they responded in their last outing. Their most recent game was an 80–60 win over Missouri on December 7, where Tre White posted 20 points and 13 rebounds while freshman Darryn Peterson added 17. The Jayhawks held Missouri to just 34% shooting and forced 14 turnovers, showing the kind of defensive intensity that has carried them all season. Kansas allows only 63.7 points per game and opponents are hitting just 37.5% from the field, which makes them a tough matchup for any team. With Peterson emerging as a go-to scorer alongside Flory Bidunga’s presence inside, Kansas has the balance to keep this game tight.
NC State, meanwhile, is coming off an 85–45 blowout win over Liberty on December 10, where Ven-Allen Lubin and freshman Matt Able each scored 13 points. The Wolfpack average 89.2 points per game and shoot 50% from the field, but they also allow nearly 76 points per game, which leaves them vulnerable against disciplined defenses like Kansas. While Darrion Williams and Quadir Copeland provide plenty of offensive punch, the Jayhawks’ ability to slow tempo and force tough shots gives them a path to cover. With Kansas’ defensive metrics and Peterson’s scoring ability, grabbing +3.5 looks like a strong position in what should be a competitive matchup.
Kansas vs NC State Over/Under Pick
- Under 151.5 (5 Units)
The Under 151.5 looks appealing in Kansas–NC State because of the contrasting styles and Kansas’ defensive strength. The Jayhawks’ most recent game was an 80–60 win over Missouri on December 7, where they held the Tigers to just 34% shooting and forced 14 turnovers, continuing a season-long trend of limiting opponents to 63.7 points per game on 37.5% shooting. NC State, meanwhile, is coming off an 85–45 win over Liberty on December 10, but despite their offensive average of 89.2 points per game, they’ve shown inconsistency against tougher defenses. Kansas slows tempo, controls the glass, and forces teams into half-court battles, while NC State’s defense allows nearly 76 points per game but has improved at home. With the Jayhawks’ ability to grind possessions and the Wolfpack facing a step up in defensive pressure, this matchup projects closer to the mid-140s, making the Under 151.5 a strong angle.
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