NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
The Kansas City Roos vs South Dakota Coyotes Picks and Predictions – Thursday, January 15, 2026
Kansas City heads to Vermillion on Thursday night for a Summit League matchup against South Dakota at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center, and the market is pricing this as a home favorite spot with a meaningful gap. South Dakota is laying 7.5 points at home, and that’s largely a reflection of two things, the Coyotes’ strong home record (8-2) and Kansas City’s struggles away from home (1-9). Even with South Dakota sitting around .500 overall, their home court has been a real edge, and that typically shows up in how they score and how they close games.
The total at 159.5 is the other key clue. Oddsmakers are expecting points, and the line implies South Dakota is projected to score into the low 80s if the game plays normally. Kansas City’s job, both for the upset path and for the +7.5 cover path, is to keep this from becoming a fast, open-floor scoring game. If Kansas City can control tempo, get to the line, and avoid the defensive lapses that turn small deficits into a 12-point gap, it can stay inside the number. If South Dakota gets comfortable early and starts living at the stripe, the favorite has a cleaner path to cover because it can score without relying on shooting variance.
Every Sharp Move, Every Capper, All Sports
Track professional picks, line steam, and market swings in real time.
Kansas City Roos vs South Dakota Coyotes Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should keep tracking movement throughout the day on the latest college basketball odds board.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Roos | +244 | +7.5 (-114) | O 159.5 (-111) |
| South Dakota Coyotes | -318 | -7.5 (-110) | U 159.5 (-113) |
Kansas City Roos Betting Form
Kansas City is 4-14 overall, but the recent 81-79 loss to North Dakota showed the Roos can compete when their offense is getting steady production from multiple scorers. CJ Evans’ 24 points on efficient shooting and Karmello Branch’s 20 point output mattered because it showed Kansas City can keep a game in the 70s when it isn’t turning the ball over and is taking clean shots. That is the first requirement for covering as a road underdog. You can’t cover +7.5 if you’re stuck in the low 60s and trading empty possessions.
The second requirement is game control. Kansas City’s pace profile suggests it can keep games from turning into track meets, and it also has a free throw angle that can matter in close games, 15.1 made free throws per game is enough to stabilize the offense when the shot isn’t falling. Kansas City also has shown it can win away from home with the 73-66 win over Omaha, which is important context because it proves the Roos can travel and execute at least one clean road game script. For Kansas City to cover here, it has to avoid giving South Dakota “free points,” meaning transition runouts, unnecessary fouls, and short offensive trips. If the Roos can keep South Dakota’s efficiency from exploding, the +7.5 is live, especially with a projected score that sits inside the number. For a quick snapshot of results and splits, use the Kansas City Roos team page. Availability matters, so monitor the Kansas City injury report before tip.
South Dakota Coyotes Betting Form
South Dakota is 9-9 overall, but the Coyotes have played like a different team in their building at 8-2. They’re coming off an 82-72 win over Denver where Cameron Fens posted a strong double-double, and that’s the kind of interior and rebounding presence that often shows up at home. The Coyotes’ offensive baseline is solid at 82.3 points per game, and they have a free throw profile that can be a spread-covering tool because it allows them to score even when the jumpers are not dropping.
The most important bettable piece here is the stripe. South Dakota is making 19.6 free throws per game, which is elite volume, and it’s a huge edge against underdogs because it can turn close halves into separation late. Isaac Bruns’ 20.6 points per game gives them a reliable scoring anchor, and when paired with Fens’ rebounding and inside production, the Coyotes can win both the shot quality and possession segments. At home, that combination is usually enough to cover numbers in this range if the opponent can’t match the physicality. Track form and roster notes on the South Dakota Coyotes team page, and check the South Dakota injury report before you lock anything in.
Kansas City Roos vs South Dakota Coyotes Matchup Breakdown
This matchup is a conflict between Kansas City’s need for control and South Dakota’s ability to score through pressure and free throws. If South Dakota is getting to the line early, the game can speed up quickly because Kansas City will be forced to chase, and chasing usually increases pace and increases the total. That’s also the cover risk for Kansas City, because a couple of foul-heavy segments can create a margin that’s hard to erase on the road. Kansas City’s best path is keeping South Dakota out of the bonus, making the Coyotes earn points through halfcourt execution, and then doing enough offensively to keep the deficit in the one to two possession range.
On the total, 159.5 is high, but it’s supported by South Dakota’s scoring and free throw volume. The under case is tied to Kansas City’s scoring baseline and the idea that the Roos will try to slow possessions, manage clock, and avoid a fast game. Your projection sitting at 154 is consistent with that. The over case requires South Dakota to get its normal home scoring output plus enough contribution from Kansas City to lift the total, which can happen if the game becomes more open or if there is late fouling with the underdog chasing.
Kansas City Roos vs South Dakota Coyotes Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Kansas City +7.5. The number is playable because the projection you provided sits inside the spread, and Kansas City has shown enough recent competitiveness to trust a cover path if it plays with discipline. South Dakota should win at home, but covering -7.5 is more sensitive to game script than the moneyline, because it requires clean separation. If Kansas City controls tempo and avoids foul trouble, it can stay close enough to cash the points, even if South Dakota is the better team.
On the total, I lean under 159.5. Kansas City’s slower pace preference and lower scoring baseline are the main reasons, and your projection aligns with a mid-150s game. The risk is South Dakota’s free throw volume, because points at the line can inflate totals quickly without needing extra possessions, but at this number, the under is still the better lean.
Best Bet: Kansas City +7.5 (-114).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting college basketball daily, start with the NCAAB picks hub and compare prices on the latest college basketball odds board, because Summit League spreads like this can move quickly once bettors weigh home-court splits against overall record and recent form, and the “why is the .500 team laying points?” question often drives late movement. This is also a matchup where live betting can be sharper than pregame if you get an early read on foul rate and tempo, because if South Dakota is living at the stripe and Kansas City is forced to chase, both the side and total can re-price aggressively. For more matchup breakdowns across the slate, use the NCAAB previews hub to compare pace expectations and scoring profiles, then track performance on the handicappers leaderboard to decide whose approach fits how you bet, whether you’re targeting spreads, totals, first-half positions, or live entries built around game flow.
