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 19:00 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 |
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:
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.
Same Game Parlay Picks
Try out our same game parlay pick which starts with Under 153.5. We’ve also gone for Kent State +5.5, and at least one team not to score 80 points and Kent State to win on the Result & BTTS lines.
Many betting sites now allow you to place a same game parlay on each individual basketball game. It means that you can create a personalised wager at bigger odds, with there generally being no limit as to the number of picks.
Correct Score Prediction
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.
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 -222. The market suggests that Kent State are least likely to win at +180.
The spread currently stands at 5.5 and the total points line is 154.5. A Total wager relates to the number of points that will be scored overall. There’s the chance to back Under 154.5 at -115.
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.
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
- Game Totals: An average of 158.10 pts in the previous 10 games
- Over 153.5: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 games
- Team Totals: Have scored an average of 80.80 pts and allowed 77.30 pts in the last 10 games
NCAAB Regular Season Table Select Season
| 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
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