Jay Biggerstaff. Getty Images.Win Total Wednesday: Kansas OVER 6.5 WINS +110
Kansas Football had their best season in over a decade in 2022 in Lance Leipold’s second season at the helm. Six regular season wins and a bowl victory over Arkansas further solidified Leipold’s position as one of the better coaches in the country in my opinion. This Kansas football program was in the absolute gutter when he took over and by Year 2 he has them almost winning a bowl game over a SEC team? Very impressive turn around all things considered. Now the big question in 2023 is, Can the Jayhawks deliver when they have expectations? I say YES.
No offense in the nation brings back more production in 2023 than Kansas. An offense that averaged 438.6 yards and 35.6 points per game returns 10 starters and every single contributing skill player from last season. Jalon Daniels was 2nd Team All-Big 12 last year and put up a school record 544 passing yards and 6 total TDs in the Liberty bowl. The X-factor For this team is Jason Daniels health who had the best QBR in the country last year. They return stud RB and 1,000 yard rusher Devin Neal along with all top WRs and TEs. They return four starting offensive lineman and brought in two very good offensive line transfers including former five-star OT Logan Brown from Wisconsin and Cal transfer Spencer Lovell who reportedly could beat out a returning starter at guard.
On defense Kansas did some good things in the transfer portal (Austin Booker from Minnesota, Devin Phillips from CSU and Patrick Joyner Jr from USU) to try and help out the defensive line who lost some talent upfront but does return 7 starters amongst the linebacker and defensive back corps. They still brought in a BG transfer at LB (JB Brown) and a LSU transfer (Darius McGhee) at DB. They do return two very strong pieces of the defensive front in Jerome Robinson and Tommy Dunn Jr. who should shine this season.
Kansas doesn’t have the easiest schedule in the world but in a mediocre Big 12 conference, the amount of talent returning and Lance Leopoldo leading the charger, 7 wins is more than attainable for this Kansas team. Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk baby.