Ball State at Kent State College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/23/2018

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

MAC Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Ball State Cardinals head to MAC Center to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Ball State as 1.5 point favorites.

Ball State comes into this game with an overall record of 12-7. They currently have a point differential of 1.0 as they are averaging 74.8 points per game while giving up 73.8 per contest. Kent State has an overall record of 9-10. They are averaging 73.1 points per game and surrendering 72.4, good for a point differential of 0.6.

Valuable Ball State Cardinals Betting Trends

The Ball State Cardinals are 6-7 against the spread this season

The Ball State Cardinals are 5-8 against the over/under this year

Important Kent State Golden Flashes Betting Trends

The Kent State Golden Flashes are 6-7 against the spread this season

The Kent State Golden Flashes are 6-8 against the over/under this year

Key Ball State Cardinals Injuries

01/07/18 G Jontrell Walker Suspension is out indefinitely

Key Kent State Golden Flashes Injuries

01/22/18 G Taishaun Johnson Undisclosed is "?" Tuesday vs Ball State

Player Spotlight

Tayler Persons averages 14.1 points per contest while playing 28 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage is 75%. Kyle Mallers averages 10.3 points per contest in 26.8 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.2 assists per game and 4.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Jaylin Walker scores 16.8 points per contest while playing 31.1 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.1 rebounds per contest and has 1.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is at 75%. Kevin Zabo averages 12.4 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 26 minutes per game. He also brings in 2.5 rebounds per game and has 2.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

Ball State averages 74.8 points per contest this year, which is 158th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 1.0 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 118th. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 246th in Division 1. They average 36.6 boards per contest and 14.7 assists per game, which ranks them 136th and 116th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 141st with 13.8 per game. The Cardinals allow 73.8 points per contest, which is 226th in the country. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 123rd and 316th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 35.6 rebounds a game which ranks 206th, and they allow 13.8 assists per game which puts them in 209th place in college basketball. They force 11.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 56th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Kent State is 211th in the country with 73.1 points per contest this season. They are 265th in the nation in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 0.6. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 237th in Division 1. They are 207th in the country in rebounding with 35.4 boards per contest and 294th in assists per game with 12.1. The Golden Flashes are 197th in turnovers per contest with 13.0. The Golden Flashes give up 72.4 points per game, which ranks them 186th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 230th and 100th in those defensive statistics. They rank 165th with 13.3 dimes allowed per game and 150th with 34.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Golden Flashes are 210th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cardinals are 226th in the country in defensive rating with 103.5, and their offensive rating of 104.9 is ranked 163rd. They are 112th in college basketball in pace with 71.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 107th. As a unit they are 102nd in the nation in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 84th in D-1. Ball State is 113th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 150th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Kent State is 219th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 206th in the nation. The Golden Flashes are 197th in the country in offensive rating with 103.6, and their defensive rating of 102.7 is ranked 208th. In terms of pace they are 170th in Division 1 with 70.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 272nd. As a team they are 262nd in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 197th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Ball State/Kent State college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Ball State -1.5

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