Loyola Chicago vs Kent State Prediction 3/26/25 College Basketball Picks Today

The Kent State Golden Flashes and the Loyola Chicago Ramblers meet Wednesday in college basketball action from the Gentile Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Loyola Chicago vs Kent State Prediction.

Matchup History

The last time these two teams met was back on November 25^th, 2017, and it finished as a 75-60 victory for Kent State, making the Ramblers 2-1 in three all-time meetings between the two programs.

Kent State Recap

The Kent State Golden Flashes booked their spot in the NIT quarterfinals after ending up with a 77-75 win over Stanford last time out.

Golden Flashes Looking For First-Ever NIT Semifinal Appearance

Jalen Sullinger leads the Golden Flashes in scoring with 15.4 PPG along with 2 RPG while VonCameron Davis has 14.6 PPG with 3.7 RPG to cap off the pair of double-digit scorers for Kent State up to this point in the year. Cli’Ron Hornbeak has 7.6 PPG with 5.9 RPG and Delrecco Gillespie has 7.9 PPG with a team-high 7.7 RPG to lead the Golden Flashes on the glass. Cian Medley also has a team-high 4.1 APG to lead the Golden Flashes in assists so far this season. Marquis Barnett has 8.7 PPG with 3.6 RPG as well this season. As a team, Kent State is averaging 73.7 PPG on 43.6% shooting from the field, 31.4% from three and 75.1% from the foul line up to this point in the year.

Why the Kent State Golden Flashes will win

• Kent State has won seven of its last eight night games against non-Conference opponents.

Loyola Chicago Recap

The Loyola Chicago Ramblers come into the NIT quarterfinals off of their 77-76 win over San Francisco last time out.

Ramblers Aiming For First NIT Semifinal Spot Since 1962

Jayden Dawson leads the Ramblers in scoring with 13.2 PPG along with 3.1 RPG while Des Watson has 12.9 PPG along with 3.5 RPG and a team-high 2.6 APG to lead the Ramblers in the assist department this season. Sheldon Edwards Jr. has 12.2 PPG with 3.6 RPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Loyola-Chicago up to this point in the year. Jalen Quinn has 7.1 PPG with 2.2 APG while Miles Rubin has 9.2 PPG and 5.4 RPG to own the team lead for the Ramblers on the glass so far this season. As a team, Loyola-Chicago is averaging 73.5 PPG on 45.8% shooting from the field, 35.4% from three and 66.3% from the foul line this season.

Why the Loyola Ramblers will win

• Loyola (IL) has won each of its last 16 night games at Joseph J. Gentile Arena.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Loyola (IL)’s last six games against the Mid-American Conference have produced a total of 144 or fewer points.
• Six of Kent State’s last seven night games against non-Conference opponents have produced a total of 133 or fewer points.

Loyola Chicago vs Kent State Prediction

I’m on Kent State and the points here. I get the case to be made for Loyola Chicago being at home and this NIT has been tough from a travel perspective on both teams, with Kent State making two cross-country trips already. The Ramblers come from the West Coast themselves. That being said, these two teams are very similar and match up pretty well in my opinion, so much so that I think that the points have some value in this game. Loyola Chicago’s two NIT games so far have been decided by 4 points and even with this being their first home game of the NIT, I think another close matchup is in store here. Give me Kent State and the points.