Kent State at Ball State College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/8/2018

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Quicken Loans Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Kent State Golden Flashes head to Quicken Loans Arena to take on the Ball State Cardinals on Thursday, March 8, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Ball State as 3 point favorites.

Kent State heads into this matchup with a mark of 15-16. They currently have a point differential of -0.2 as they are averaging 73.3 points per contest while giving up 73.5 per game. Ball State has an overall record of 19-12. They are averaging 75.4 points per game and surrendering 73.7, good for a point differential of 1.6.

Valuable Kent State Golden Flashes Betting Trends

The Kent State Golden Flashes are 12-14 against the spread this season

The Kent State Golden Flashes are 13-13 against the over/under this year

Important Ball State Cardinals Betting Trends

The Ball State Cardinals are 10-15 against the spread this season

The Ball State Cardinals are 11-14 against the over/under this year

Key Kent State Golden Flashes Injuries

01/30/18 G Taishaun Johnson Undisclosed is out indefinitely

Key Ball State Cardinals Injuries

01/27/18 G Jeremie Tyler Dismissed is out for season
01/07/18 G Jontrell Walker Legal problems is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jaylin Walker averages 16.6 points per contest while playing 33.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.8 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 79%. Kevin Zabo averages 12.8 points per contest in 28.6 minutes per game this year. He averages 2.4 assists per game and 3 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% for the season while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Tayler Persons scores 14.9 points per contest while playing 29.6 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.3 rebounds per contest and has 4.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 67%. Tahjai Teague averages 11.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 25.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 7.4 rebounds per game and has 1.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is 64%.

Useful Team Statistics

Kent State averages 73.3 points per contest this year, which is 191st in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -0.2 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a unit, which has them ranked 273rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 33%, which is good for 302nd in Division 1. They average 35.6 boards per contest and 11.8 assists per game, which ranks them 163rd and 304th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 169th with 13.1 per game. The Golden Flashes allow 73.5 points per contest, which is 205th in the country. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 242nd and 109th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.6 rebounds a game which ranks 166th, and they allow 13.9 assists per game which puts them in 219th place in college basketball. They force 13.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 185th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Ball State is 129th in the country with 75.4 points per contest this season. They are 139th in the nation in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.6. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 230th in Division 1. They are 78th in the country in rebounding with 37.5 boards per contest and 120th in assists per game with 14.3. The Cardinals are 136th in turnovers per contest with 13.4. The Cardinals give up 73.7 points per game, which ranks them 212th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 92nd and 249th in those defensive statistics. They rank 163rd with 13.2 dimes allowed per game and 248th with 36.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Cardinals are 89th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 12.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Golden Flashes are 213th in the country in defensive rating with 103.7, and their offensive rating of 103.4 is ranked 210th. They are 136th in college basketball in pace with 70.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 272nd. As a unit they are 258th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 145th in D-1. Kent State is 192nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 215th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Ball State is 144th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 98th in the nation. The Cardinals are 180th in the country in offensive rating with 104.6, and their defensive rating of 102.3 is ranked 170th. In terms of pace they are 88th in Division 1 with 71.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 148th. As a team they are 141st in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 142nd in the nation.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Kent State +3

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