The Kent State Golden Flashes (5-1) travel to Houston to take on the No. 2 Houston Cougars (5-0) Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Kent State vs. Houston odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
While Kent State comes in as massive underdogs, Houston is looking to stake its claim as the No. 1 team in the country. A claim it will have with a victory after UNC’s shocking 70-65 loss to Iowa State Saturday. The Cougars have clearly been the best team in the country to this point. A victory here, and the voters will finally put them atop the standings.
Kent State had its 5-game winning streak snapped with a 74-72 defeat to the College of Charleston. While Kent State has scored at least 72 points in all its games, that’s likely to change today. Houston is one of the best defensive teams in the nation, and the talent coach Kelvin Sampson has acquired will again lead to a wide margin of victory.
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Kent State at Houston odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:15 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Kent State +900 (bet $100 to win $900) | Houston -3000 (bet $3,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Kent State +19.5 (-110) | Houston -19.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 134.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Kent State at Houston picks and predictions
Prediction
Houston 77, Kent State 52
Moneyline
PASS on the Moneyline.
Houston will win this game convincingly. I am not willing to make a wager of $3,000 to win $100. The value is not worth the relative guarantee of victory.
Against the spread
BET HOUSTON -19.5 (-110).
Houston has smothered teams on defense all season. Saturday’s game will be no different as the Cougars will pull away and not look back.
Kent State, despite being 5-1 on the early season, is not to the level of Houston. Playing on the Cougars’ home floor only makes this outcome more likely. Houston is the best team in the country right now, and they will show it Saturday against an overmatched Golden Flashes team.
Bet HOUSTON -19.5 (-110) as my favorite play.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 134.5 (-105).
The elite Houston defense will hold another opponent Under the total in this game.
Only 1 of Houston’s first 5 games have gone Over the posted total. The Same is true for Kent State. In 10 division I games combined, these teams are 2-7-1 for Overs. This will be another Under for these teams, and getting it at an excellent value of -105 is even better.
Bet UNDER 134.5 (-105).
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