Kennesaw State Owls vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Kennesaw State vs Western Kentucky NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Bowling Green.

Kennesaw State vs Western Kentucky Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Owls and Hilltoppers. The game is starting at 3:00 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Hilltoppers at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, KY. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Conference USA conference contest is set at 160.5 points, with Western Kentucky being favored by -8.5 at home against Kennesaw State.

Kennesaw State vs. Western Kentucky Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Kennesaw State Owls at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Where: Bowling Green at E. A. Diddle Arena
Date: Saturday, January 11th
Betting Odds WKENT -8.5, KENEST +287 | WKENT -367 O/U 160.5

Owls Preview: Does Kennesaw State Have A Chance at E. A. Diddle Arena?

Kennesaw State fell to 6-6 on the season after an 84-79 road loss to Middle Tennessee on Thursday. The Owls entered the game as +9.5 point underdogs but managed to keep it closer than expected.

After trailing 43-39 at halftime, Kennesaw State scored 40 points in the second half but allowed 41. The game’s total points of 163 went over the pre-game line of 157.5.

Owls Offense Breakdown

Kennesaw State put up 79 points in their last game, shooting 42.6% from the field. They connected on just 29% of their three-point attempts, hitting 9 of 31, while their two-point shooting was a more efficient 54.1% (20/37). Their effective field goal percentage stood at 50%.

Jestin Porter led the way with 27 points, shooting 60% overall and 42.9% from deep. Adrian Wooley added 24 points, and Essam Mostafa contributed 22 points and 9 rebounds, hitting 66.7% of his shots. Andre Weir was nearly perfect, making 6 of 7 shots and grabbing 8 rebounds in just 17 minutes.

Owls Team Defense

Kennesaw State struggled defensively, giving up 84 points on 51% shooting from the field. Their opponents were especially effective inside, hitting 57% of their two-point attempts.

The Owls also allowed 10 threes on 43% shooting from beyond the arc. They sent their opponents to the line 22 times, where they made 14 free throws.

Hilltoppers Preview: Do the Hilltoppers Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Recent Game/Games

Western Kentucky dropped to 8-6 on the season after a 73-67 home loss to Jacksonville State on Thursday. The Hilltoppers, who were -6.5 favorites, failed to cover the spread.

Leading 27-24 at halftime, WKU allowed 49 points in the 2nd half while scoring 40. The game’s total points of 140 fell short of the 150.5 O/U line.

Hilltoppers Offense Breakdown

Western Kentucky struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 32.8% from the field and 30.8% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 39.1%, and they managed only 5 offensive rebounds, finishing with 10 assists as a team.

Enoch Kalambay led the Hilltoppers with 24 points, hitting 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. Mason Nicholson contributed 20 points on 9 of 13 shooting, adding 12 rebounds. Quel'Ron House dished out 7 assists, while Jaron Pierre Jr. connected on just 1 of 7 three-point attempts.

Hilltoppers Team Defense

Western Kentucky's defense held their opponent to 73 points on 32% shooting from the field, including 34% on two-point attempts. They also limited their opponent's three-point shooting to 30%, with 8 made threes on 26 attempts.

The Hilltoppers sent their opponent to the free-throw line 21 times, where they converted 17 free throws for 81%. Western Kentucky gave up just 5 offensive rebounds in the game.

Owls vs Hilltoppers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their three previous road games, Kennesaw State has an ATS mark of 1-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 0-3 while averaging 72 points per game.
When looking at their past three home matchups, Western Kentucky has an ATS record of 1-2 while averaging 67 per game. The team went 1-2 overall in these games.
Going back to their last ten games as the underdog, the Owls have a straight up record of 3-7. But, their mark vs the spread was just 5-5.
Looking back on the team's last three games as the favorite, the Hilltoppers have a straight up record of 1-2. Their record vs the spread in these games was 1-2.