The Ohio Bobcats (-12.5) aren’t traveling far to face their in-conference foe Kent State Golden Flashes at Dix Stadium. ESPN+ is scheduled to televise the action and this afternoon game starts at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Ohio Bobcats vs. Kent State Golden Flashes Betting Preview
Kent State is a significant home underdog in this MAC game and is currently getting 12.5 points. The Bobcats are also receiving -525 moneyline odds while the Golden Flashes are +360. If one school catches a lucky break early it will create a decent live betting scenario. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 70 points.
The game’s O/U has swung higher after opening at 69.5. The original line of 12.5 hasn’t changed.
The Bobcats are 2-2 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 1.0 unit so far. The team has posted an Over-Under record of 3-0. The Golden Flashes are down 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 3-2 ATS and have an O/U record of 3-2.
The Bobcats have gone 2-2 straight up (SU) and they haven’t faced any MAC competition yet. The Golden Flashes are 1-4 SU overall and are also 0-1 SU in conference play.
The Bobcats hope to make it two in a row 58-42 victory over Massachusetts last week. Nathan Rourke completed 23 passes on 32 attempts for 270 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Rourke (189 yards on 16 rush attempts, one TD) also led the ground attack and was complemented by Maleek Irons (140 yards on 13 carries, two TDs). Papi White (six receptions, 84 yards, two TDs) and Andrew Meyer (six catches, 60 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
On September 29, Ball State got the win against this Kent State team by a score of 52-24. The Golden Flashes defensive unit allowed the Cardinals to pass for 446 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 160 yards and three scores. Riley Miller was outstanding, putting up 208 yards on 11 catches for the Cardinals. For Kent State, Woody Barrett completed 30-of-44 passes for 314 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Justin Rankin (75 rushing yards on 19 attempts, two TDs) and the signal-caller Barrett (-9 yards on 12 carries) spearheaded the running attack as Isaiah McKoy (10 receptions, 68 yards) and Antwan Dixon (five catches, 55 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Ohio has run the ball on 56.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Kent State has a rush percentage of 52.1 percent. The Bobcats have produced 223 rush yards per game and have 10 scores on the ground this year. The Golden Flashes are totaling 175 rushing yards per game and have 10 total rush TDs.
It seems like the Bobcats should have an edge when it comes to RB effectiveness. Their running backs has logged 5.6 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 4.2 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Golden Flashes have ran for 4.1 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 4.5 to opponents.
The Bobcats offense has averaged 243 yards in the air overall and has eight passing scores so far. The Golden Flashes have put up 232 pass yards per game and have six total pass TDs.
Defensively, Ohio has allowed 131 rush yards and 387 pass yards per game. The Kent State defense has allowed 325.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 202.0 yards per game on the ground. The Golden Flashes are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 8.62 to opposing QBs, while the Bobcats have allowed a whopping 9.63 ANY/A.
Offensively, Rourke is up to 560 passing yards this year. He’s completed 41-of-71 attempts with five scores through the air and only one interception. He has a 7.73 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.17 over the last two outings.
In the home locker room, Woody Barrett has managed to complete 91-of-150 passes for 916 yards, five TDs and four INTs. Barrett’s ANY/A stands at a mediocre 4.56 for the season and 4.05 over his last two outings.
When these two teams met a year ago, Ohio knocked Kent State off handily 48-3.
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NCAA Tip: Ohio Bobcats vs. Kent State Golden Flashes
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Bobcats offense has produced two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Golden Flashes have accounted for four such plays.
The Ohio defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Kent State has given up 10 such plays.
The Ohio offense has created 13 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Kent State has created 10 such runs.
The Bobcats defense has allowed three rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Golden Flashes have given up 11 such runs.
The Kent State D has sacked opposing quarterbacks 12 times this season. Ohio has registered seven sacks.
As a team, Ohio has produced 6.26890756302521 yards per carry over its last three games and 7.1 over its last two.
Kent State has averaged 2.8 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.6 over its past two.
In its last three contests, Kent State is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Ohio was favored by 11 points in its last game and the Over/Under was set at 69. The over cashed and Ohio covered in the 58-42 win over Massachusetts.
In its last three games, Ohio is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
Kent State was favored by 7 points in its previous match and the Over/Under was set at 60. The over cashed and Kent State did not cover in that 52-24 defeat to Ball State.
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