The Kansas Jayhawks (3-2) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1) will collide on Monday in the opening round of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. It’s a high-profile early-season test for both squads, but Kansas will be without standout freshman guard Darryn Peterson due to a hamstring injury. Kansas is still a favorite going into this game, but can they overcome the loss of Peterson? Continue reading for my Notre Dame vs Kansas prediction for this afternoon.
Our Notre Dame vs Kansas Pick
- Pick: Notre Dame +4.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Kansas Jayhawks vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Date & Time: Monday, November 24, 2025, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
- Broadcast: TNT
Key Storylines
- Kansas short-handed without Peterson: Darryn Peterson is a highly rated freshman averaging 21.5 points per game. He has been ruled out for at least three games, including this one, due to a hamstring strain. His absence leaves a hole in Kansas’s backcourt and the Jayhawks will need to figure out a way to replace his production.
- Notre Dame finding its rhythm: The Irish are shooting well, particularly from deep. Braeden Shrewsberry is averaging three made threes per game, and Markus Burton is leading the Irish with 19.4 points per contest. The Fighting Irish lost their first game against a power conference opponent this year, losing by a point on the road to Ohio State. They will try to atone for that here.
- Big stage, early tournament pressure: The Players Era Festival in Vegas brings a neutral-court environment and both teams will be tested early. Kansas wants to rebound after a loss to Duke dropped them to 3-2 early on. Notre Dame sees this as a chance to make a statement against a quality program, even if Kansas is banged up.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
Past meetings: Notre Dame leads 9–3 all-time against Kansas. The last time these two met was in 1988, when the Irish won in South Bend.
ATS and O/U records: Kansas is 2-3 against the spread to start the season. Notre Dame is 3-2 against the spread to begin their campaign. The under has cashed in four of Kansas’ first five games, while the over is 3-2 in Notre Dame’s first five outings.
Notre Dame vs Kansas Model Projection
- Score Projection: Kansas 73 – Notre Dame 71
- Win Probability: Kansas 58%, Notre Dame 42%
Final Thoughts
Kansas could very well win this game in Vegas despite the absence of Peterson. The interior presence of Flory Bidunga will still cause plenty of headaches for the Fighting Irish. Still, I am going to take the points with Notre Dame here, as they should keep this one close until the very end against a short-handed Jayhawks squad.
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