Kent State vs. Illinois State prediction: Why Illinois State is favored to win NIT matchup [3/18/2026]

Men's college basketball action continues on Wednesday at 8:00 PM ET as Kent State locks horns with Illinois State in men's college basketball action at CEFCU Arena.

Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' proven college basketball model predicts Illinois State as the most likely winner of the Kent State vs. Illinois State game.

This article offers a closer look at Wednesday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and picks.

Kent State vs. Illinois State prediction: Who will win NIT matchup?

Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Wednesday's NCAA basketball matchup between Kent State and Illinois State 10,000 times as part of our men's college basketball predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model currently gives Illinois State a 66% chance of defeating Kent State. Our predicted final score has Illinois State winning 77-72.

According to our model, the bookmakers have got it right, and Kent State and Illinois State each have a 50% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 153.5 points has a 56% chance of staying under.

Kent State vs. Illinois State odds

We have sourced the best men's college basketball odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Kent State	Illinois State
Spread	+3.5 (-102)	-3.5 (-120)
Moneyline	+165	-184
Total	o153.5 (-115)	u153.5 (-105)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Kent State vs. Illinois State picks and best bet

After matching our probabilities against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Spread	Kent State +3.5	-102
Moneyline	Illinois State	-184
Total	Under 153.5	-105

According to our men's college basketball best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 153.5 total points.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.

Kent State vs. Illinois State game-day updates and essential details

Wednesday's men's college basketball matchup between Illinois State and Kent State at CEFCU Arena is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM ET.

• Who: Kent State vs. Illinois State
• Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
• Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
• Venue: CEFCU Arena

College basketball betting and fantasy promos and codes

Make the most of Dimers' Kent State vs. Illinois State predictions by exploring the below offers from OG, Bet365, BetMGM, and Thrillzz, .

Conclusion

We predict Illinois State, with a 66% win probability, will likely beat Kent State this men's National Invitational Tournament matchup.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Kent State vs. Illinois State insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Note: Clicking links to our partners may earn us a referral fee. Learn about how we review products and services.