Indiana vs. Kent State Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round First Round

March 13, 2023, by Andy Molitor College Basketball Predictions

The No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region bracket, the Indiana Hoosiers (22-11), and the No. 13 seed Kent State Golden Flashes (28-6) meet in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at MVP Arena, beginning at 9:55 PM. Indiana is a 4.5-point favorite in the matchup, which airs on TBS. The matchup has an over/under of 140.5.

Indiana vs. Kent State Odds

Indiana odds to win: -191
Kent State odds to win: +162
Spread: Indiana (-4.5)
Total: 140.5

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Game Time and Information

Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
Time: 9:55 PM ET
TV: TBS
Where: Albany, New York
Venue: MVP Arena

Who Will Win Indiana vs. Kent State?

Indiana and Kent State Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Indiana is 10-7 against the spread when favored by 4.5 points or more this season.

When it has played as at least a 4.5-point underdog this season, Kent State is 2-0 against the spread.

The Hoosiers and the Golden Flashes combine to average 11.1 more points per game than the over/under of 140.5 set for this matchup.

Opponents of these teams have averaged a combined 134.2 points per game, 6.3 fewer than the over/under for this matchup.

The average total Indiana has had set in matchups this year is three more points than this outing’s point total.

The average point total for the Golden Flashes this year is 1.8 points higher than this game’s over/under.

The Hoosiers are 15-17-1 ATS this season.

So far this season, the Golden Flashes have put together a 21-11-1 record against the spread.

Indiana Stats & Insights

Indiana averages 75 points per game (98th in college basketball) while giving up 68.5 per contest (128th in college basketball). It has a +217 scoring differential overall and outscores opponents by 6.5 points per game.

Indiana ranks 98th in college basketball at 33 rebounds per game. That’s 2.1 more than the 30.9 its opponents average.

The Hoosiers knock down 5.7 three-pointers per game (330th in college basketball) while shooting 37% from deep (40th in college basketball). They are making 1.8 fewer threes per outing than their opponents, who drain 7.5 per game while shooting 33.2%.

Indiana ranks 70th in college basketball with 98.1 points scored per 100 possessions, and 121st in college basketball defensively with 89.5 points conceded per 100 possessions.

The Hoosiers score 80.1 points per game when playing at home, compared to 67.5 points per game on the road, a difference of 12.6 points per contest.

Kent State Stats & Insights

Kent State outscores opponents by 10.9 points per game (posting 76.6 points per game, 59th in college basketball, and allowing 65.7 per contest, 52nd in college basketball) and has a +371 scoring differential.

Kent State averages 32.4 rebounds per game (138th in college basketball) while conceding 30.7 per contest to opponents. It outrebounds opponents by 1.7 boards per game.

Kent State connects on 7.9 three-pointers per game (115th in college basketball), while its opponents have made 7 on average.

Kent State ranks 88th in college basketball with 97.2 points scored per 100 possessions, and 14th defensively with 83.4 points conceded per 100 possessions.

In 2022-23 the Golden Flashes are averaging 15.6 more points per game at home (83.9) than away (68.3).

Indiana Key Players to Watch

The leader in scoring, rebounding and assists for the Hoosiers is Trayce Jackson-Davis, who averages 20.8 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

The Hoosiers get the most three-point shooting production out of Miller Kopp, who knocks down 1.8 threes per game.

Race Thompson and Jackson-Davis lead Indiana on the defensive end, with Thompson leading the team in steals averaging one per game and Jackson-Davis in blocks averaging 2.7 per contest.

Kent State Key Players to Watch

The Golden Flashes’ Sincere Carry racks up enough points (17.7 per game) and assists (4.8 per game) to sit atop the team’s leaderboards.

Miryne Thomas is at the top of the Kent State rebounding leaderboard with 5.5 rebounds per game. He also racks up 10.6 points and tacks on 0.8 assists per game.

Carry is reliable from distance and leads the Golden Flashes with 1.9 made threes per game.

Kent State’s leader in steals is Malique Jacobs with 2.7 per game, and its leader in blocks is Chris Payton with one per game.