Kent State vs Ohio Bobcats NCAAB Prediction 2/28/23

Odds

2022-2023 season stats

Preview

On February 28th, 2023, as the Ohio Bobcats take on the Kent State Golden Flashes at the M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio. The game promises to be a thrilling encounter, as two of the Mid-American Conference's (MAC) top teams go head-to-head.

Ohio comes into the game with a 17-12 record overall and a 9-7 record in conference play, while Kent State boasts a 23-6 overall record and a 13-3 conference record. Kent State is the favorite to win the game, with a 7.5-point spread, but Ohio has shown they can compete with the best teams in the conference and will be looking to pull off an upset.

Ohio Bobcats

The Ohio Bobcats have had a solid season so far, with a 17-12 record overall and a 9-7 record in conference play. They have been led by the impressive play of senior guard D. Wilson III, who is averaging a team-high 16.0 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game. Wilson has been one of the most efficient players in the conference, shooting 62.1% from the field and 70.5% from the free-throw line.

Alongside Wilson, Ohio has several other talented offensive players, including junior guard J. Hunter, who is averaging 12.1 points per game, and sophomore guard J. Preston, who is averaging 11.3 points per game. Defensively, Ohio has been solid this season, allowing just 73.1 points per game, which ranks fifth in the MAC. They have also been strong on the glass, averaging 37.3 rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the conference.

One area where Ohio has struggled this season is turnovers. They are averaging 12.9 turnovers per game, which is the second-worst in the conference. Additionally, they have been inconsistent from beyond the arc, shooting just 33.7% from three-point range, which is the fifth-worst in the conference. If Ohio hopes to pull off the upset against Kent State, they will need to take better care of the ball and shoot the ball more efficiently from long range.

Kent State Golden Flashes

The Kent State Golden Flashes are having an outstanding season so far, with a 23-6 overall record and a 13-3 record in conference play. They are currently tied for first place in the Mid-American Conference standings with Toledo, and they have a chance to clinch the regular-season conference championship with a win against Ohio.

Offensively, Kent State has been one of the most efficient teams in the conference, averaging 75.4 points per game on 44.8% shooting from the field. They have been led by the impressive play of senior guard S. Carry, who is averaging a team-high 16.6 points per game and 5.0 assists per game. Carry has been one of the most efficient players in the conference, shooting 40.2% from beyond the arc and 78.0% from the free-throw line.

Alongside Carry, Kent State has several other talented offensive players who can score from anywhere on the court. Junior forward M. Thomas is averaging 14.6 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game, while junior guard M. Nuga is averaging 11.2 points per game. Additionally, Kent State has received solid contributions from their frontcourt players, including sophomore forward K. Phillips, who is averaging 8.4 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Defensively, Kent State has been one of the best teams in the conference, allowing just 64.4 points per game, which ranks second in the MAC. They have also been dominant on the glass, averaging 35.2 rebounds per game, which ranks fifth in the conference. Additionally, they have been one of the best shot-blocking teams in the conference, averaging 3.9 blocks per game.

Overall, Kent State has been a balanced team this season, with solid contributions from their guards and frontcourt players. Their defensive performance has been particularly impressive, and they have the ability to shut down opposing offenses. If they can replicate their offensive performance against Ohio, they could potentially win the game comfortably.

BETTING TRENDS

North Carolina State are 14-5 SU in their last 19 games.

North Carolina State are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games against Kent State.

North Carolina State are 6-14 SU in their last 20 games against Kent State.

North Carolina State are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games on the road.

The total has gone OVER in 8 of North Carolina State's last 8 games when playing on the road against Kent State.

Kent State are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games.

Kent State are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.

The total has gone OVER in 9 of Kent State's last 11 games against North Carolina State.

Kent State are 15-0 SU in their last 15 games at home.

Prediction

Kent State enters the game as the favorites, with a -7.5 point spread, and for good reason. They have been one of the best teams in the conference this season, with a balanced offensive attack and a stingy defense. Ohio, on the other hand, has struggled at times this season, particularly on the defensive end.

While Ohio has several talented offensive players who can score from anywhere on the court, they have struggled to contain opposing offenses this season. They are allowing 73.1 points per game, which ranks ninth in the conference, and they are allowing their opponents to shoot 45.9% from the field, which is the seventh-worst in the conference. Additionally, they have been one of the worst rebounding teams in the conference, averaging just 37.3 rebounds per game, which ranks eighth in the MAC.

On the other hand, Kent State has been one of the best defensive teams in the conference, allowing just 64.4 points per game. They have the ability to shut down opposing offenses, and they have several talented offensive players who can score from anywhere on the court. If they can replicate their defensive performance against Ohio, they could potentially win the game comfortably and cover the -7.5 point spread.

In conclusion, while Ohio has the potential to cause an upset, particularly if they can shoot the ball at an efficient rate, we believe that Kent State is the better team and should win the game comfortably. With their impressive defensive performance this season, they have the ability to shut down Ohio's offense and cover the -7.5 point spread.

PICK: Kent State -7.5 (-110)

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