Kent State vs Illinois State Prediction, Picks & Odds | 18 Mar 2026

College Basketball Betting Preview: Kent State vs Illinois State

The Kent State Golden Flashes battle the Illinois State Redbirds in this NIT First Round game at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Illinois, with tip-off scheduled for 20:00 on Wednesday, March 18.

Let’s go Under the 153.5 points total as we think this number is unlikely to be reached. Kent State and Illinois State could well end up falling short and -105 can be backed.

The Kent State Golden Flashes (24-9, 3rd in MAC) suffered a defeat in their previous game. A 75-68 scoreline occurred on the road against the Akron Zips.

The Illinois State Redbirds (20-12, 3rd in MVC) lost when they last took to the court. They were turned over 74-52 at home to the Northern Iowa Panthers.

NCAAB Regular Season	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
Kent State	23-9	2697	2560	137	16-3	7-6	1L
Illinois State	20-12	2404	2190	214	15-4	5-8	1L

View Full Standings

Kent State vs Illinois State Prediction & Picks

We cover the essential Kent State vs Illinois State betting angles, featuring our main match prediction, correct score guidance and a carefully crafted bet builder.

Game Prediction

Go for Under at -105. It might be defenses on top when these college rivals meet, with the 153.5 points line looking on the high side on the totals.

Injuries can influence the outcome and our college basketball handicappers factor that in alongside the latest form guide. We apply the same approach to the stats to build the clearest picture of how the game might unfold.

Key Kent State vs Illinois State stats:

• The 153.5 line hasn’t been covered in 4 of the last 5 Kent State games on the road.
• The 153.5 line hasn’t been covered in 7 of the last 10 Kent State games on the road.
• The 153.5 line hasn’t been covered in 8 of the last 10 Illinois State games at home.
• The 153.5 line hasn’t been covered in 16 of the last 20 Illinois State games.

Under 153.5 Probability

According to the best betting apps, our pick has a 51.3% chance of delivering a return. After careful examination, our cappers have this probability close to 60%. It is the reason why we are recommending this college basketball wager.

It’s all about getting the best odds and one way of maximising your Unders bet is by combining it with the winner on the Match Result & Total lines.

Discover the best value in betting. Our expert guide lists today’s top free bets, promo codes and new customer bonuses.

Our Game Prediction

Under 153.5 Points @ -105 Bet Now

BetMGM Promo Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Get Bonus T&C apply. Gamble responsibly 18+

Disclosure: This preview contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. T&Cs apply. We only recommend licensed and regulated operators. See our Editorial Policy. Pick odds and lines reflect the price available at the time of publication (Mar 18, 00:02). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Correct Score Prediction

Kent State 74 - 75 Illinois State

There might not be too much between these teams, with our correct score pick being a 75-74 win for Illinois State. There are huge odds available when it comes to this selection.

T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Kent State vs Illinois State Odds

The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.

With a 69% chance of securing victory, Illinois State are favorites for this college game and the sportsbooks have them at betting odds of -227. The market suggests that Kent State are least likely to win at +184.

The spread currently stands at 5.5 and the total points line is 153.5. A Total wager relates to the number of points that will be scored overall. There’s the chance to back Under 153.5 at -105.

Consider every angle when placing your college basketball wagers. The best sportsbooks have a huge selection of game lines and team props and it’s all about finding a bet which matches your prediction of the game.

Moneyline

Kent State

+184

Illinois State

-227

Point Spread

Kent State +5.5

-106

Illinois State -5.5

-114

Total Points

Under 153.5

-105

Over 153.5

-115

Prop betting is very popular, with bettors looking to wager on player props such as Points, Assists, Rebounds, Steals and Three-Pointers. It’s a great way of betting on individual player performance and the gambling sites will provide lots of options.

Micro betting is an exciting way to wager on college basketball. There are many live lines and it’s a simple case of predicting what is going to happen. Next Field Goal, where you select if the shot will be a two or three-pointer are among the options.

Latest regular season and playoff games stats.

Kent State Stats

Illinois State Stats

Moneyline

• 7 wins and 3 defeats in the last 10 games
• 6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 games on the road

Moneyline

• 5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games
• 7 wins and 3 defeats in the last 10 home games

Point Spread

• +5.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 8 of the last 10 games
• +5.5 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the spread in 8 of the last 10 games on the road

Point Spread

• -5.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 4 of the last 10 games
• -5.5 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the spread in 6 of the last 10 home games

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 158.10 pts in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals on the Road: An average of 150.30 pts in the previous 10 games on the road
• Over 153.5: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 games
• Over 153.5 on the Road: Covered in 3 of the previous 10 games on the road
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 80.80 pts and allowed 77.30 pts in the last 10 games
• Team Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 76.30 pts and allowed 74.00 pts in the last 10 games on the road

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 141.70 pts in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals at Home: An average of 134.10 pts in the previous 10 home games
• Over 153.5: Covered in 3 of the previous 10 games
• Over 153.5 at Home: Covered in 2 of the previous 10 home games
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 70.00 pts and allowed 71.70 pts in the last 10 games
• Team Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 71.20 pts and allowed 62.90 pts in the last 10 home games

NCAAB Regular Season Table Select Season 2025/20262024/20252023/20242022/20232021/20222020/20212019/2020

Missouri Valley	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
Belmont	26-6	2684	2347	337	15-3	11-3	2L
Northern Iowa	23-12	2447	2144	303	13-5	10-7	5W
Bradley	21-12	2560	2422	138	17-4	4-8	1L
Illinois State	20-12	2404	2190	214	15-4	5-8	1L
Murray State	20-12	2667	2558	109	14-4	6-8	2L
UIC	19-15	2567	2379	188	11-7	8-8	1L
Valparaiso	17-15	2278	2300	-22	13-4	4-11	1L
Southern Illinois	16-16	2336	2226	110	8-8	8-8	1L
Drake	14-20	2552	2544	8	7-12	7-8	1L
Indiana State	11-21	2354	2383	-29	8-7	3-14	1L
Evansville	7-25	2143	2447	-304	5-12	2-13	2L

Mid-American	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
Miami (OH)	31-1	2901	2409	492	17-1	14-0	1L
Akron	29-5	3004	2499	505	19-2	10-3	10W
Kent State	23-9	2697	2560	137	16-3	7-6	1L
Bowling Green	18-14	2602	2290	312	12-7	6-7	1L
Toledo	19-15	2754	2603	151	13-4	6-11	1L
Buffalo	17-15	2497	2437	60	8-8	9-7	2L
UMass	17-16	2648	2562	86	11-6	6-10	1L
Ohio	15-17	2492	2515	-23	11-8	4-9	4L
Ball State	12-19	2093	2154	-61	8-7	4-12	4W
Central Michigan	10-21	2275	2384	-109	8-5	2-16	2L
Western Michigan	10-21	2318	2464	-146	7-8	3-13	3L
Eastern Michigan	9-21	2105	2231	-126	6-7	3-14	4L
Northern Illinois	9-21	2086	2334	-248	6-7	3-14	5L

• Overall = Overall Wins-Losses
• PF = Total Points For
• PA = Total Points Against
• N. Pts = Point Differential
• Home = Home Record
• Away = Away Record
• Strk = Current Streak

Top Basketball Pages