Fordham Rams vs Kansas Jayhawks prediction: Tyran Stokes and Kansas' courtroom returners open against stubborn Fordham
Kansas gets Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. back alongside a No. 1 recruit, and Fordham's only real counter is a rebounding defense that can't shoot.
| Spread | Kansas -21.5 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 145.5 |
- Kansas' returning guards and Stokes should control a slow game; Fordham needs second chances and transfer scoring to stay within the number.
- Rikus Schulte on the glass against a Kansas frontcourt still sorting out Reeves, Dawes and an unproven Kaufman-Renn.
- Kansas moved from -22.5 to -21.5 while the total fell from 146.75 to 145.5; Fordham ranked 279th in pace last season.
Kansas gets its veterans back
Kansas spent the offseason looking like a teardown. The roster count credits the Jayhawks with just 6.4% of last season's minutes back, but that tally lists Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. as departures. Both won eligibility through preliminary injunctions while the NCAA appeals, and both plan to play this season.
They looked like the old core in the exhibitions. White scored 25 and Council added 20 in an 89-83 loss to Louisville on Oct. 21. Projected starters for tonight are Council, White and Tyran Stokes, with the last two spots going to some mix of Taylen Kinney, Keanu Dawes and Christian Reeves.
Stokes is the reason Kansas carries real upside. The 6-foot-8 freshman guard is the program's second straight No. 1 national recruit, and he scored 27 against Duke with 7 assists. Kansas lost that one too, so Bill Self opens his 24th season at KU with two exhibition defeats and a defense still finding itself.
The frontcourt is less settled. Purdue transfer Trey Kaufman-Renn, who averaged 14.2 points last season, sat out every exhibition. On Nov. 1 Self said he is expected to be ready but cited "unknowns" before committing to play him. His status for tonight is unclear.
Fordham's shooting problem
Fordham under Mike Magpayo won with defense last season and scored in spite of itself. The Rams made 29.6% of their threes, 355th of 365 teams, and almost never got to the foul line: their free throw rate (free throw attempts per shot) ranked 358th.
That is a bad profile to carry into Allen Fieldhouse. Last season's Kansas defense held opponents to the fourth-lowest effective field goal percentage (a shooting mark where threes count 1.5 times) and ranked sixth in block rate. Its main shot-blocker, Flory Bidunga, left for Louisville after averaging 2.6 blocks, so the rim protection now falls largely to Reeves, who has been cleared after an offseason shoulder injury.
Fordham's hope lies in the backcourt it imported. Amir Lindsey averaged 17.9 points at UAlbany, and Lateef Patrick Jr. scored 15.2 per game at Stephen F. Austin. Patrick put up 20 in an exhibition win over Fairfield and is expected to be the focus of the offense. With about half of last season's minutes back, these Rams should shoot better than last year's group, but how much better is unknown.
The glass is Fordham's lifeline
If Fordham steals extra possessions, it will be on the boards. The Rams ranked 13th in defensive rebound rate and 59th in offensive rebound rate last season. Kansas ranked 248th on the offensive glass.
Those Kansas numbers came from a different frontcourt, and Dawes pulled down 8.8 rebounds per game at Utah. Still, Rikus Schulte, a preseason second-team all-Atlantic 10 and all-defensive pick, gives Fordham a forward who can win that fight.
Turnovers offer Fordham less to fear than usual. The Rams were loose with the ball last season, but Kansas ranked 345th in forced turnover rate and rarely gambles. Expect a half-court game decided by shot quality and rebounds rather than steals.
What the number says
Kansas is a 21.5-point favorite, a point lower than when our feed first saw the game at 22.5. The total has moved the other way, sliding to 145.5 from 146.75.
The under movement fits Fordham's identity. The Rams ranked 279th in pace last season and allowed 99.1 points per 100 possessions, 21st nationally. The counterweight is Kansas' preseason defense, which gave up 89 and 90 points in its two exhibition losses.
The series offers little guidance. This is the first meeting since 1977, and Fordham is 1-4 all-time against Kansas. The Jayhawks open at No. 17 in the AP poll and eighth in Ken Pomeroy's preseason rankings; Fordham was picked seventh in the Atlantic 10.
Fordham Rams vs Kansas Jayhawks line movement and odds
| Book | Rams ML | Jayhawks ML | Rams spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +1500 | -5000 | +21.5 (-115) | o146.5 (-110) |
| BetRivers | — | — | +22.5 (-117) | o146.5 (-112) |
| DraftKings | +2000 | -6500 | +21.5 (-112) | o146.5 (-110) |
| ESPN BET | +3000 | -20000 | +21.5 (-110) | o146.5 (-110) |
| Fanatics | +2500 | -7000 | +21.5 (-110) | o146.5 (-110) |
| FanDuel | +2200 | -8000 | +20.5 (-104) | o146.5 (-110) |
| Hard Rock Bet | — | — | +21.5 (-105) | o146.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | — | — | +21.5 (-110) | o146.5 (-110) |
Where the money is on Fordham Rams vs Kansas Jayhawks
On the Kalshi moneyline: Fordham Rams: 59% of bets, 6% of the money; Kansas Jayhawks: 41% of bets, 94% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Kansas Jayhawks -21.5: 83% of bets, 69% of the money; Fordham Rams +21.5: 17% of bets, 31% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 145.5: 63% of bets, 82% of the money; Under 145.5: 38% of bets, 19% of the money.
Fordham Rams vs Kansas Jayhawks stats (this season)
| Stat | Fordham Rams | Kansas Jayhawks |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Adjusted offensive efficiency | 103.8 (268th of 365) | 117.4 (64th of 365) |
| Adjusted defensive efficiency | 103.6 (76th of 365) | 92.8 (9th of 365) |
| Adjusted net efficiency | 0.2 (166th of 365) | 24.6 (22nd of 365) |
Key players
- Tyran Stokes (Kansas): The No. 1 recruit scored 27 with 8 rebounds and 7 assists in the exhibition against Duke.
- Tre White (Kansas): Eligible via injunction, he scored 25 against Louisville and shot 40.3% from three last season.
- Melvin Council Jr. (Kansas): Also back through the courts, he averaged 5.1 assists last season and scored 20 against Louisville.
- Trey Kaufman-Renn (Kansas): Averaged 14.2 points at Purdue last season but missed every exhibition and is not confirmed to play.
- Lateef Patrick Jr. (Fordham): Expected focal point after averaging 15.2 points at SFA last season and scoring 20 against Fairfield.
- Amir Lindsey (Fordham): Averaged 17.9 points and 4.9 assists at UAlbany last season.
- Rikus Schulte (Fordham): Preseason all-defensive pick who averaged 9.1 rebounds last season.
Numbers that matter
| Fordham 3-point % (last season) | 29.6% | Ranked 355th of 365, a weak base against a Kansas defense that ranked fourth in opponent effective field goal percentage. |
|---|---|---|
| Fordham defensive rebound % (last season) | 74.8% | Ranked 13th, Fordham's best tool for limiting Kansas possessions. |
| Kansas spread | -23.5 | Up from -22.5 when our feed first recorded the game. |
| Total | 143.5 | Down from 146.75, in line with Fordham's slow pace last season. |
Fordham Rams vs Kansas Jayhawks: quick answers
Who is favored in Fordham Rams vs Kansas Jayhawks?
Kansas is favored by 21.5 points (Kansas -21.5).
What is the over/under for Fordham Rams vs Kansas Jayhawks?
The total is 145.5 points.
When is Fordham Rams vs Kansas Jayhawks?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET.
Where is Fordham Rams vs Kansas Jayhawks played?
Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS.
Has the line moved for Fordham Rams vs Kansas Jayhawks?
Yes: Fordham Rams opened +23.5 and is now +21.5, and the total moved from 148 to 146.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on Fordham Rams vs Kansas Jayhawks?
On the Kalshi moneyline: Fordham Rams: 59% of bets, 6% of the money; Kansas Jayhawks: 41% of bets, 94% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Kansas Jayhawks -21.5: 83% of bets, 69% of the money; Fordham Rams +21.5: 17% of bets, 31% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 145.5: 63% of bets, 82% of the money; Under 145.5: 38% of bets, 19% of the money.