Louisiana-Monroe vs Kansas State Picks and Predictions – Sunday December 28, 2025
Kansas State gets one more nonconference tune-up Sunday afternoon in Manhattan with Louisiana-Monroe coming into Bramlage Coliseum. It’s the kind of game that’s supposed to be simple, but it also matters because the Wildcats have finally started to look like themselves again. After a rough mid-December dip, K-State has pushed the pace, scored in bunches, and built real momentum heading into Big 12 play.
ULM is in a tough spot. The Warhawks have struggled to defend without fouling, and they’ve had issues taking care of the ball when the game speeds up. That’s exactly what Kansas State is going to try to force. The market is pricing this like a mismatch for a reason, so the betting question becomes: can ULM hang around enough to matter on the number, or does K-State’s current tempo turn this into another runaway?
Louisiana-Monroe vs Kansas State Odds
These are the current betting lines, but bettors should always monitor updated latest college basketball odds leading up to tip.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana-Monroe | +3300 | +33.5 (-110) | O 170.5 (-110) |
| Kansas State | -10000 | -33.5 (-110) | U 170.5 (-110) |
Louisiana-Monroe Betting Form
Louisiana-Monroe has been stuck in a bad stretch, and it’s not hard to see why when you watch the possessions. The Warhawks can score when they get clean looks, but the offense feels fragile. If they’re not hitting early threes or getting to the line, they end up living in awkward late-clock attempts. That’s a problem against a team that wants to pressure tempo and punish empty trips.
From a betting angle, ULM’s path to covering a huge number usually looks like this: make enough perimeter shots to stay attached, avoid turnover runs, and keep the free-throw gap manageable. That’s a narrow lane. If you want to dig into the profile, check the Louisiana-Monroe stats and results.
Kansas State Betting Form
Kansas State’s form has swung back in a big way. The Wildcats are playing faster again, they’re getting early offense, and they’re not relying on one action to create every shot. P.J. Haggerty has been the engine, but what’s changed lately is that the scoring doesn’t feel like a grind. When K-State is good, the ball gets downhill, the kickouts come on time, and the second unit doesn’t bleed possessions.
Defensively, they’ve also looked more connected in recent games, especially with communication on switches and better spacing in ball-screen coverages. That matters because it fuels transition, and transition is how favorites like this cover big spreads. You can track the recent surge and splits on the Kansas State schedule and stats.
Louisiana-Monroe vs Kansas State Matchup Breakdown
This sets up as a tempo argument, and Kansas State has the leverage. ULM’s best chance is to slow the game into half-court possessions, limit live-ball turnovers, and make K-State score over set defense. The problem is that Kansas State has been creating chaos lately, and the Wildcats don’t need perfect execution to score when they’re getting stops and running.
Shot profile matters too. ULM can shoot, but they also give up clean looks when the ball swings side-to-side, and K-State’s guards have been efficient getting paint touches and forcing rotations. If the Wildcats are also winning the offensive glass even a little, it’s hard to see ULM surviving the volume disadvantage.
A few matchup edges I keep circling:
- Kansas State’s transition pace versus ULM’s ball security
- Perimeter creation for K-State versus ULM’s closeout discipline
- Foul pressure and free throws late if the spread is in play
If you’re thinking through how blowouts actually happen from a betting perspective, it’s worth brushing up on the sports betting strategy guide, especially for how turnovers and pace amplify margin. And if you’re lining this up with the broader slate, the college basketball previews hub is a clean way to compare matchups and numbers without bouncing around.
Louisiana-Monroe vs Kansas State Predictions and Best Bets
My first instinct is that Kansas State is live to cover, even at a huge number, because their style right now is the style you want when laying points. They push after makes and misses, and they’re not shy about running the score when the opponent’s legs go. ULM also hasn’t shown the kind of defensive stability that usually keeps games inside a massive spread.
That said, numbers like -33.5 always come with game-state risk. If Kansas State gets up 25 early, the last 10 minutes can get sloppy. You’re betting that the second unit holds the line and that ULM doesn’t have a random hot shooting stretch that turns the final margin into a backdoor.
The total is interesting. 170.5 is high, but it’s high because Kansas State can get to 90 by itself in the right script. If ULM contributes even modestly and K-State keeps the tempo elevated, Over tickets get alive quickly. The Under case is basically ULM melting down offensively or Kansas State calling off the dogs and walking it up late.
I lean Kansas State on the side and slightly toward the Over because the spread itself can create faster possessions, more fouling, and more late-game free throws if ULM is still competing.
Best Bet: Kansas State -33.5 (-110).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Big spreads and inflated totals are where I like having multiple opinions in front of me, because one sharp read can be the difference between laying it confidently or passing. If you’re building a card, start with today’s college basketball picks and compare how different handicappers are attacking the same game.
It also helps to know who’s been consistent over time, not who had a good week. The top sports handicappers page is useful for that bigger-picture check, especially during the heavy nonconference-to-league transition when rotations and styles shift.
And if you’re shopping for outs or trying to tighten up your process, the reviews on trusted handicapper sites pair well with the broader sportsbook reviews section. I’ll also bounce through the ScoresAndStats blog when I’m looking for angles that explain why a line might be moving beyond the obvious.


