Kent State vs. Northern Illinois Prediction: Spread, Total Points, Moneyline Picks

The Kent State Golden Flashes (9-4, 0-1 MAC) visit the Northern Illinois Huskies (4-9, 0-1 MAC) in a matchup of MAC teams at NIU Convocation Center, starting at 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. The Huskies are 12.5-point underdogs in the game. The matchup has a point total of 136.5.

Kent State vs. Northern Illinois Odds

Kent State odds to win: -599 Northern Illinois odds to win: +440 Spread: Kent State (-12.5) Total: 136.5

Kent State vs. Northern Illinois Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM ET TV: ESPN+ Where: DeKalb, Illinois Venue: NIU Convocation Center

Who Will Win Kent State vs. Northern Illinois?

Kent State and Northern Illinois Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Kent State is 2-1 against the spread when favored by 12.5 points or more this season.

In games it has played as at least a 12.5-point underdog this year, Northern Illinois is 1-3 against the spread.

The two teams average a combined 5.5 more points per game (142) than this matchup’s total of 136.5 points.

Opponents of these two teams have averaged a combined 139 points per game, 2.5 more than the over/under for this matchup.

The average total Kent State has had set in games this season is 2.7 fewer points than this outing’s point total.

The average point total for the Huskies this year is 10.6 points higher than this game’s over/under.

The Golden Flashes’ ATS record is 6-5-0 this season.

So far this season, the Huskies have compiled a 4-6-0 record against the spread.

Kent State Stats & Insights

Kent State has a +64 scoring differential, topping opponents by 4.9 points per game. It is putting up 69.4 points per game to rank 309th in college basketball and is allowing 64.5 per outing to rank 33rd in college basketball.

Kent State prevails in the rebound battle by an average of 2.6 boards. It is grabbing 32.4 rebounds per game (217th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 29.8 per outing.

The Golden Flashes make 7.5 three-pointers per game (212th in college basketball) at a 29.1% rate (343rd in college basketball), compared to the 6.8 their opponents make while shooting 32.1% from deep.

Kent State averages 91.9 points per 100 possessions on offense (272nd in college basketball), and allows 85.4 points per 100 possessions (64th in college basketball).

When playing at home, the Golden Flashes are averaging 18.5 more points per game (80.5) than they are away from home (62.0).

Northern Illinois Stats & Insights

Northern Illinois’ -24 scoring differential (being outscored by 1.9 points per game) is a result of putting up 72.6 points per game (246th in college basketball) while allowing 74.5 per contest (265th in college basketball).

Northern Illinois averages 30.6 rebounds per game (295th in college basketball) while allowing 37.0 per outing to opponents. It is outrebounded by 6.4 boards per game.

Northern Illinois makes 8.8 three-pointers per game (97th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 7.8. It shoots 32.3% from deep, and its opponents shoot 35.7%.

Northern Illinois’ 91.3 points per 100 possessions on offense rank 284th in college basketball, and the 93.6 points it concedes per 100 possessions rank 251st in college basketball.

The Huskies score 87.6 points per game at home, and 63.3 away.

Kent State Key Players to Watch

VonCameron Davis leads the Golden Flashes in scoring, tallying 15.3 points per game to go with 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Kent State’s leading rebounder is Cli’Ron Hornbeak averaging 7.0 boards per game and its best passer is Cian Medley, averaging 3.3 assists per game.

The Golden Flashes get the most three-point shooting production out of Jalen Sullinger, who knocks down 1.8 threes per game.

Sullinger is Kent State’s leader in steals, averaging 1.3 steals per game, while Hornbeak leads them in blocks with 0.8 per contest.

Northern Illinois Key Players to Watch

James Dent Jr. has racked up 5.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, and is atop the Huskies leaderboards in those stat categories.

Quentin Jones counts for 16.3 points per game, and is the top scorer on Northern Illinois’ squad.

Dent is dependable from three-point range and leads the Huskies with 2.2 made threes per game.

Northern Illinois’ leader in steals is Quaran McPherson (1.3 per game), and its leader in blocks is Jones (1.1 per game).