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Eastern Michigan vs Kent State Odds, Lines & Picks (Feb. 17)

Jack Magruder

By Jack Magruder in College Basketball

Published:


Kent State guard Sincere Carry making a pass
Sincere Carry with a no-look pass, Robert Lewis on defense.Kent State hosted University of Arkansas at Pine Bluffs, taking the win 94-68. Ksu Mbk V Arpb 111622 Ls02
  • Mid-American contender Kent State meets Eastern Michigan on Friday, February 17.
  • Kent State is a 16.5-point home favorite over Eastern Michigan at the Memorial Athletic Center.
  • Read below for Eastern Michigan vs Kent State odds, analysis and prediction.

Kent State (21-5, 11-2 Mid-American) is a 16.5-point home favorite against Eastern Michigan in a MAC game at 6 pm ET on the CBS Sports Network. The Golden Flashes have won five of their last six and are 12-0 at home.

Eastern Michigan (6-20, 3-10 Mid-American) has lost nine of its last 11 games, including a 77-63 home loss against Kent State in the first meeting Jan. 17. The Eagles are in danger of failing to qualify for the eight-team MAC postseason tournament.

Eastern Michigan vs Kent State Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Eastern Michigan Eagles +16.5 (-102) +1160 Over 145.5 (-110)
Kent State Golden Flashes -16.5 (-120) -2800 Under 145.5 (-110)

Odds from FanDuel on Feb. 16. Claim the FanDuel Sportsbook promo code.

Kent State is a 16.5-point favorite over Eastern Michigan in a series in which the Golden Flashes have dominated recently. Kent State has won the last five and is 6-1 SU and is 4-2-1 ATS in the series since their second meeting in 2019. The Flashes are 15-1 SU in the series at home since 1998 and are 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS at home since 2013.

 

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Kent State is 16-8 against the number this season, 7-3 at home. Eastern Michigan is 11-14 ATS, 6-6 on the road. The Golden Flashes are among the best “under” teams this season, with 17 of its 24 games going under the total.

Kent State Rolls Along

In what was the closest thing to a foregone conclusion in the Mid-American Conference this season, preseason league favorite Kent State clinched a spot in the eight-team postseason tournament with its latest victory, an 82-58 cruise at Western Michigan on Tuesday. No surprises here. The Golden Flashes are built for success, with point guard Sincere Carry as the principal piece in a veteran group that entered the season motivated by a decisive loss to Akron in the finals of the 2022 MAC tourney, a game that kept the Golden Flashes from their first NCAA tournament berth since 2017.

Carry, one of four senior starters, leads the team in scoring (16.3 points per game) and assists (5.1 per) and has 41 threes, one of three Kent State players with at least 40. Senior guard Malique Jacobs (12.0 points, 5.0 rebounds) and senior forward Myrine Thomas (11.0, 5.2) also average in double figures. Coach Rob Senderoff scheduled up in anticipation of a strong season, and the Golden Flashes were competitive in losses to Houston (49-44) and Gonzaga (73-66) in a 10-day span around Thanksgiving. Their largest of defeat was 67-55 at nemesis Akron two weeks ago, and the teams meet again on the final day of the regular season.

The Golden Flashes with win defense. They have limited opponents to 39.9 percent shooting from the field and have forced 16.7 turnovers, 15th best in Division I. They have won eight games by at least 20 points this season and have a plus-11.3 scoring margin, 21st in Division I.

Eastern Michigan in a Funk

The return of hometown hero Emoni Bates has not signalled the resurgence that Eastern Michigan and coach Stan Heath had hoped. Bates, a high school prodigy at Ypsilanti Prep before spending last season at Memphis, has been the Eagles’ best player. A smooth 6’9″ wing Bates leads the team in scoring (20.2 points per game), rebounding (5.6) and three-pointers made (66), but the team had had trouble filling around him despite the scoring of guards Tyson Acuff (14.7) and Noah Farrakhan (12.8).

The Eagles have used 15 lineups, none more than five times, and have had season-long issues with defense. Opponents are shooting 48.4 percent from the field. Only seven teams have given up a higher percentage. They have a minus-6.1 rebound margin, also among the very worst in Division I. Bates had 13 points and two blocked shots in a 78-51 loss to Akron on Tuesday, but it took him 13 field goal attempts to get there. He was 2 of 17 from the field in the previous game, a 70-63 home loss to Toledo.

Eastern Michigan vs Kent State Prediction

Opposites collide here. Kent State is a veteran, well-coached team that plays a game built on disruptive defense and a team approach on offense, although 2022 MAC Player of the Year Carry is the unquestioned leader. The Eagles are in freefall after losing nine of their last 11, and they  fell by 27 points in a home loss to Akron the last time out.  Look for the Golden Flashes to also have their way at home against one of the worst shooting and rebound teams in Division I.

  • Pick: Kent State -16.5 (-120)
  • Season CBK: 37-22 ATS

 

Jack Magruder
Jack Magruder

Sports Writer

Jack has covered college and professional sports for various Arizona media outlets since the 1980s and has written for the Associated Press, USA Today and Baseball America, among others. He staffed the 2015-17 World Series and has staffed four Super Bowls.

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