The Kent State Golden Flashes take on the Loyola Chicago Ramblers in the NIT quarterfinals. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Loyola Chicago is favored by 5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -225. The total is set at 142 points.
Here are my Kent State vs. Loyola Chicago predictions and college basketball picks for March 26, 2025.
Kent State vs Loyola Chicago Prediction
My Pick: Kent State +5.5
My Kent State vs Loyola Chicago best bet is on the Golden Flashes to cover the spread, with the best odds currently available at BetMGM. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Kent State vs Loyola Chicago Odds, Lines
| Kent State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -110 | 142 -110o / -110u | +185 |
| Loyola Chicago Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -110 | 142 -110o / -110u | -225 |
- Kent State vs Loyola Chicago spread: Loyola Chicago -5
- Kent State vs Loyola Chicago over/under: 142 points
- Kent State vs Loyola Chicago moneyline: Loyola Chicago -225, Kent State +185
- Kent State vs Loyola Chicago best bet: Kent State +5.5
My Kent State vs Loyola Chicago NIT Betting Preview
After winning at St. Bonaventure (an A-10 rep like Loyola) and Stanford in this year's NIT, there's no reason Kent State can't go into Chicago to do the same thing against Loyola.
Rob Senderoff's troops seemed to turn the page in February by accelerating the tempo, triggering a five-game win streak and a stretch of four 90-plus point games in five to climb back into the league race.
The Golden Flashes are led by a mature, senior-laden lineup with guard Jalen Sullinger (scored 34 in the second-round win at Stanford) lighting the fuse. The Flashes have also scored 72 or more in 12 of their last 13 as well.
On the other side, while wins are wins, the Ramblers have been riding lightning in this event with their own hair-raisers in the Bay Area against a sub-.500 San Jose State team and a San Francisco side without key cog Marcus Williams.
The A-10 was also a heavy-legged league this season, and Loyola was more comfortable playing at a faster speed than the Duquesne, Fordham and UMass types in league play. Running with the Golden Flashes, however, could prove risky.
Play Kent State in the NIT quarterfinals.
