All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis and NBA Lottery-bound freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino give fourth-seed Indiana one of the Tourney’s best one-two combos, yet the Hoosiers have been helter skelter (15-17-1) all season versus the spread.
Guess who hasn’t? 13-seed Kent State, the Mid-America Conference Tournament champs who have been a stellar 20-11-1 this season ATS. The Golden Flashes have covered in four straight and seven of their last 10, making them a very intriguing team to roll with against Indiana.
Read on for my Indiana vs Kent State prediction and best bets.
Indiana vs Kent State Odds
Note: CBB odds mentioned in this article for Indiana vs Kent State were used from DraftKings Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted, and are current as of Friday, March 16, at 9 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Indiana (-175) | Kent State (+150)
- Spread: Indiana -4 (-110) | Kent State +4 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 139.5 (-110) | Under 139.5 (-110)
Indiana vs Kent State Pick of the Day
Keep reading for more Indiana vs Kent State betting tips.
Indiana vs Kent State Prediction
Indiana 74, Kent State 71
Kenpom.com shows these are two evenly matched teams in both adjusted offense and adjusted tempo. The Hoosiers, ranked 30th at Kenpom.com, should thrive from the combined firepower from Jackson-Davis and Hood-Schifino despite their 12-11-0 record as favorites.
Kent State has won 12 of their last 14 and sports a 4-1 record as a ‘dog. The aptly named Sincere Carry is the heart of this team, but if this game gets tight, keep in mind the Golden Flashes are ranked 145th nationally in free throws (72.5%), whereas the Hoosiers are 207th (71.2%).
📈 Keep track of NCAA Tournament winner odds to find our best March Madness bets:
Indiana vs Kent State Best Bets
Kent State +4 (-110) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 2 Units
Momentum means everything in March, and the Golden Flashes are more than capable of shortening the Hoosiers’ season. Kent State is very opportunistic, evidenced by their 8.9 steals per game, which ranks 17th nationally.
Over 139.5 Total Points (-110) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Kent State led the MAC in fewest points allowed per game (65.0), but Indiana’s athleticism is far superior to what the Golden Flashes saw in conference play. IU’s dynamic duo can each score at least 20 points any given night, and it’s a good bet they will do so here.
Indiana vs Kent State Same Game Parlay
Indiana vs Kent State SGP (+256) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
- Kent State +4.5 (-110)
- Over 140.5 Total Points (-105)
(Note: These parlay odds changed after I placed my initial best bet up top.) Kent State has scored at least 70 points in their past 11 games. Make it 12 as the Golden Flashes make IU earn their bid to play on Sunday.
