Kent State Golden Flashes vs Toledo Rockets Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Kent State vs Toledo NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Toledo.

Kent State vs Toledo Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Golden Flashes and Rockets. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Rockets at Savage Arena in Toledo, OH. Get ready to place your bets! This Mid-American conference matchup has an over/under of 148.5 points, and Toledo is favored to win by -1.5 at home vs. Kent State.

Kent State vs. Toledo Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Kent State Golden Flashes at Toledo Rockets
Where: Toledo at Savage Arena
Date: Tuesday, January 21st
Betting Odds TOLEDO -1.5, KENTST -108 | TOLEDO -113 O/U 148.5

Golden Flashes Preview: Can Kent State Deliver Being Underdogs on the Road?

Kent State Golden Flashes Recent Game/Games

Kent State fell to 9-6 on the season after a 70-61 loss to Miami (OH) on Saturday. The Golden Flashes, who were -5.5 favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 131, falling short of the O/U line of 142.5.

Kent State led 41-32 at halftime but struggled in the 2nd half, scoring just 20 points while allowing 38. Their inability to maintain their lead and offensive struggles in the 2nd half were key factors in the loss.

Golden Flashes Offense Breakdown

Kent State's offense struggled in their last game, managing just 61 points on 38.3% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.7%, largely due to their poor performance from beyond the arc, where they hit only 4 of 29 attempts (13.8%).

Inside the arc, the Golden Flashes were much more efficient, connecting on 61.3% of their two-point attempts. Cian Medley and Brant Byers each contributed 15 points, with Byers hitting 3 of 5 from deep. Kent State finished with 9 assists and 9 offensive rebounds, while shooting 61.1% from the free-throw line.

Golden Flashes Team Defense

Despite a strong performance inside, Kent State struggled from beyond the arc in their last game, shooting just 13% on threes with 4 makes out of 29 attempts. Overall, they scored 70 points on 38% shooting from the field, converting 23 of their 60 shots.

The Golden Flashes went to the free-throw line 18 times, hitting 11 of those for 61%. They also grabbed 9 offensive rebounds in the game.

Rockets Preview: Is A Home Victory Likely for Favored Toledo?

Toledo Rockets Recent Game/Games

Toledo improved to 9-7 on the season with a 93-75 win over Ball State on Saturday. The Rockets were +1 underdogs going into the game but covered the spread with the win.

Toledo led 44-40 at halftime and pulled away in the 2nd half, outscoring Ball State 49-35. The game’s total points of 168 went over the pre-game line of 155.5.

Rockets Offense Breakdown

Toledo's offense was firing on all cylinders, putting up 93 points on 53.7% shooting from the field. They connected on 58.8% of their two-point attempts and went 6-for-16 from beyond the arc, hitting 37.5% of their threes. Their effective field goal percentage came in at 58.2%, and they were nearly automatic from the free-throw line, making 15 of 17 attempts for 88.2%.

Payton Sparks and Isaiah Adams each contributed 20 points, with Sparks hitting 75% of his shots and Adams knocking down 66.7% from deep. Sam Lewis led the team with 21 points, while Jermahri Hill added 17 points and 6 assists. Javan Simmons was a force on the boards, grabbing 12 rebounds to go along with his 16 points.

Rockets Team Defense

Despite Toledo's defensive struggles, they managed to hold their opponent to 75 points. The Rockets allowed their opponent to shoot 53% from the field, with most of the damage coming from two-point range, where they shot 65% (25/38).

Toledo's defense did manage to limit the three-point damage, as their opponent went just 4/16 from beyond the arc, hitting 25% of their threes. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 21 times, where they converted 13 attempts (61%).

Golden Flashes vs Rockets Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

When looking at their past three road matchups, Kent State has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 63 per game. The team went 2-1 overall in these games.
In their last five home games, Toledo has averaged 72 points per game while allowing 78. The team's record in this stretch was 2-3 while going 5-0.
Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Golden Flashes have gone 2-3 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-4.
Through their previous five contests as the betting favorite, the Rockets have a strong record of 3-2. Their record vs the spread in these matchups is 1-4.