Kent State vs. Indiana Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
It’s a Midwest regional battle on Friday night in Albany, New York as No. 13 Kent State faces No. 4 Indiana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Hoosiers opened as early 4.5-point favourites to win on the college basketball odds.
Kent State vs. Indiana NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
These teams haven’t met since 2002 when they faced off in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Indiana won that matchup 81-69 en route to a second-place finish in the tournament. The winner of Friday’s game will face either No. 5 Miami or No. 12 Drake in the second round.
Playing in their first NCAA Tournament since 2017, Kent State has a 4-6 combined record in six previous appearances. Their best run was in 2002 when they lost to Indiana in the Elite Eight, which is actually the last tournament they won a game in. They’ve bowed out in the first round of their last three tournament appearances. Kent State is +33,700 to win the NCAA Tournament.
The Hosiers are in the Big Dance for the 42nd time in school history. They’ve had a lot of success in the NCAA Tournament, putting together a 67-35 overall record and winning five national championships (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987). Last year, Indiana earned their way into the tournament by knocking off Wyoming in the First Four before falling to Saint Mary’s in the first round. Indiana is +2699 to win the tournament.
Kent State Golden Flashes (13)
Kent State (28-6) comes into the NCAA Tournament on a six-game win streak, capped off by a 93-78 win over Toledo in the MAC Tournament title game last Saturday. Sincere Carry has led the way for the Golden Flashes offensively. Carry is averaging team-highs in points per game (17.6) and assists (4.9). He had 26 points, four assists and three rebounds in the win over Toledo and he went off for 35 points, four assists and two rebounds in an overtime win against Akron on March 3.
Malique Jacobs (13.0) and Miryne Thomas (10.7) are the other two players averaging double figures for Kent State. Jacobs also leads the team with 2.7 steals, while Thomas has a team-high 5.5 rebounds. The Golden Flashes are much smaller physically, so shutting down Trayce Jackson-Davis, who runs Indiana’s offence, will be key.
Indiana Hoosiers (4)
Indiana (22-11) finished second in the Big Ten regular season standings before suffering a tough loss to Penn State in the semifinals of the conference tournament. Jackson-Davis has been a huge part of this team. He leads the Hoosiers in points (20.8), rebounds (10.9), assists (4.1) and blocks (2.7). Jackson-Davis scored 20 or more points in 16 games this season, including his last four, and he’s put up 30 or more four times.
Outside of Jackson-Davis, there’s concern about how consistent Indiana can be. They’re just 4-4 over the last eight games and Jalen Hood-Schifino (13.5 ppg) is the only other player averaging double digit points. The Hoosiers, however, are the bigger team physically and have the potential to push Kent State around. Jackson-Davis is good enough to win this on his own, but if he can get some help, Indiana should have no problem moving on.
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