LIU vs Kansas Picks and Prediction for Friday September 4 2026

The LIU Sharks face their second consecutive difficult road assignment when they travel to Lawrence to take on the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday, September 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas, with ESPNU providing the television coverage. LIU enters at 0-1 after opening its season with a 42-21 loss at North Dakota, while Kansas will make its 2026 debut after finishing 5-7 overall and 3-6 in Big 12 play last season. Kansas is currently favored by 39.5 points, while the total is set at 53.5. Get into the action with our free college football picks.

LIU Faces Another Difficult Road Assignment

LIU didn't receive much of a warm-up before facing Kansas. The Sharks opened their season at North Dakota and fell behind 42-0 before eventually scoring three touchdowns in a 42-21 defeat.

The final 21-point offensive output looks respectable, but the manner in which those points arrived is important. LIU did not begin generating meaningful scoring until North Dakota had already established complete control of the game. Facing a Big 12 opponent on the road creates an even more difficult challenge.

There is at least one reason for optimism from a betting perspective. LIU has already played a competitive game while Kansas will be making its season debut. The Sharks have had an opportunity to identify problems under game conditions and should be able to make some adjustments before Friday night.

The 39.5-point spread also provides plenty of room. LIU doesn't need to seriously challenge Kansas to cover. Even a five-touchdown loss would comfortably cash an underdog ticket. The Sharks simply need to avoid the type of disastrous opening stretch they experienced at North Dakota.

Scoring will be particularly important. If LIU can manufacture somewhere around 10 to 14 points, Kansas may need to approach or exceed 50 points to cover the spread. That's a substantial requirement for a Jayhawks offense entering the season with significant personnel changes.

Kansas Needs a Productive Tune-Up

Kansas enters 2026 looking to break out of a frustrating pattern. The Jayhawks finished 5-7 overall and 3-6 in Big 12 play last season, marking their second consecutive 5-7 campaign after reaching nine victories in 2023.

There is also considerable change surrounding the offense. Kansas is entering its first season in several years without the longtime quarterback who became the face of the program, creating one of the biggest transitions of the current coaching era. The Jayhawks have also reshaped portions of the supporting cast and offensive line.

That makes LIU an ideal opening opponent. Kansas gets an opportunity to establish its new offense against an FCS program before Missouri comes to Lawrence the following week. The Jayhawks then face Arizona State in London, meaning the difficulty increases dramatically after Friday.

Kansas was capable of scoring last season, averaging 28.1 points per game, but the defense surrendered 26.8. The Jayhawks should have substantial advantages in depth and athleticism against LIU, yet laying nearly 40 points requires considerably more than simply controlling the matchup.

Recent history shows Kansas can dominate this type of opponent. The Jayhawks defeated Wagner 46-7 last season, a 39-point margin that would have fallen just half a point short of covering Friday's current -39.5 spread.

Kansas should win comfortably. Whether the Jayhawks need to continue aggressively extending the margin after taking control is the much more difficult handicapping question.

LIU vs Kansas Picks and Prediction

Pick: LIU +39.5

Kansas should dominate this matchup, but LIU +39.5 is my preferred side. The Jayhawks are breaking in a substantially changed offense, and their next game against Missouri is far more important than continuing to pile up points against an FCS opponent after the outcome has been decided. LIU's 42-21 loss at North Dakota wasn't encouraging because the Sharks fell behind 42-0, but their ability to eventually generate three touchdowns demonstrates why laying almost 40 points carries considerable risk. Kansas beat Wagner 46-7 last season and even that dominant performance produced only a 39-point margin. Something around Kansas 42, LIU 13 gives the Jayhawks a comfortable 29-point victory while leaving the Sharks well inside the number. Take LIU +39.5.

Pick: Under 53.5

The Under 53.5 is the preferred total. Kansas may need to provide the overwhelming majority of the scoring for this matchup to reach 54 points, and the Jayhawks enter their opener with enough offensive changes to make an immediate explosion difficult to assume. LIU produced 21 points at North Dakota, but all of those points came after the Sharks had fallen behind 42-0. Producing three touchdowns against Big 12 competition is a considerably more difficult assignment. Kansas can completely control this matchup without pushing the game Over. Scores such as 42-10, 38-10 or 41-7 all result in decisive Jayhawks victories while staying beneath 53.5. With Missouri waiting next week, there is also little incentive for Kansas to maintain an aggressive fourth-quarter approach after establishing a comfortable advantage. Take Under 53.5.