The top-seeded Toledo Rockets are looking for their first MAC Tournament championship since 1980. The Rockets will open defense of their regular-season title by facing last year's tournament champion and the eighth-seeded Kent State Golden Flashes on Thursday. The Golden Flashes (15-16, 8-10 MAC), who are 2-1 on neutral courts this season, are 34-27 all-time in the tournament with seven MAC titles. The Rockets (20-11, 14-4 MAC), who are 0-3 on neutral courts in 2023-24, are 26-28 all-time in the tournament with one championship. Toledo holds an 86-56 edge in the all-time series with Kent State.
Tip-off from Rocket Mortgage Field House is set for 11 a.m. ET. The Rockets are 6-point favorites in the latest Kent State vs. Toledo odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 152. Before making any Toledo vs. Kent State picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the proven SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters 2024 conference championship week on a 145-104 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 28-18 (+820) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Kent State vs. Toledo and locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Toledo vs. Kent State:
- Kent State vs. Toledo spread: Toledo -6
- Kent State vs. Toledo over/under: 152 points
- Kent State vs. Toledo money line: Kent State +208, Toledo -256
- KS: The Golden Flashes are 0-6 ATS in their last six games
- TOL: The total has gone Over in six of Toledo's last nine games
- Kent State vs. Toledo picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Toledo can cover
Junior guard Tyler Cochran has played well against the Golden Flashes in 2023-24. In two games, he is averaging 14 points, 5.5 rebounds, two steals and 1.5 assists in 25.5 minutes. In an 89-75 win at Kent State, he poured in 21 points, while grabbing six rebounds. He has recorded four double-doubles, including 19 points and 12 rebounds in an 84-80 win over Northern Iowa on Dec. 9. In 31 games, including 25 starts, he is averaging 14.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and two steals in 29.5 minutes.
Freshman forward Javan Simmons is one of four Toledo players averaging double-figure scoring. He has reached double-digit scoring in three of the past four games. For the season, he has started all 31 games and is averaging 12.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. His best game was a 20-point performance in a 77-66 win over Buffalo on Jan. 16. See which team to pick here.
Why Kent State can cover
Junior guard Jalen Sullinger has played well against the Rockets this season. In two games, he is averaging 15.5 points and four assists in 34.5 minutes of action. He poured in 30 points in a 76-64 win over Buffalo on Feb. 27. For the season, he has played in 31 games, including 27 starts, and is averaging 15.1 points, 2.5 assists, 2.4 rebounds and one steal in 34 minutes of play.
Junior forward Voncameron Davis has also been on a tear. He finished with 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds in 33 minutes at Toledo on Friday. In two games against the Rockets in 2023-24, he is averaging 17 points, five rebounds, 4.5 assists and three steals. He has started 22 of 30 games this season and is among the team-leaders with 13.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. See which team to pick here.
How to make Toledo vs. Kent State picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 156 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Toledo vs. Kent State, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $1,700 on its college basketball picks this season, and find out.