Kent State Golden Flashes Football 2025

Kent State hit rock bottom in 2023, 1-11 overall, 0–8 in the MAC, and a brutal 3-8-1 against the spread. It was a rough debut season for head coach Kenni Burns, and not a fun team to bet on unless you had a thing for pain.

So now it’s Year 2. Expectations are low (still), but that also means there’s room to surprise. Even modest improvement, like a couple of wins or covering more than 30% of games, would feel like a step in the right direction.

As of preseason 2025, Kent State ranks No. 136 out of 137 in Action Network’s college football betting power ratings, with a score of 45.0. That’s below UMass, Kennesaw State, and even Ball State. Not ideal. But if you’re betting MACtion late at night in November, you know weird things happen, and bottom-tier teams covering +17 spreads is basically tradition.

Here’s how to bet on the Golden Flashes this season, and what you need to know before you click confirm.

Betting on the Kent State Golden Flashes

Kent State Point Spreads

Point spreads are probably where you’ll end up if you’re backing (or fading) Kent State. These bets focus on the margin of victory, which matters a lot more than just who wins.

You might see something like:

• Kent State (+3.5)
• Ohio (-3.5)

If Kent State loses 31-28, they cover the spread, because they stayed within the 3.5 points. That means anyone who bet on the Golden Flashes gets paid. Same goes for an outright win or any loss by three or fewer.

Spread tickets cashed just 3 times last year. That number should improve... right?

FAQ: Everything you need to know about point spreads

Kent State Over/Unders

Over/unders (or totals) are bets on how many points are scored by both teams, doesn’t matter who wins, just how much action there is.

The Golden Flashes were 8-4 to the Over in 2023, which surprised a few people. It usually meant the defense gave up plenty, and the offense at least chipped in enough to push games past the posted total.

This year? Books might keep those totals low by default, but don’t be shocked if some MAC games still sneak past the number.

FAQ: Betting the point total, explained | What is a push?

Kent State Moneylines

If you’re not messing with margins and spreads, a moneyline bet just asks: who wins the game?

For example:

• Kent State -160
• Miami (OH) +180

That minus sign means Kent State is the favorite, so you’d need to risk $160 to win $100. The plus sign means Miami’s the underdog, meaning a $100 bet returns $180 if they pull off the upset.

Moneylines are common in parlays, especially when pairing them with totals or spread plays. Just know that Kent State will rarely be favored, and when they are, it’ll likely be short-lived.

If you don't want to run around doing math in your head, here's our Odds Calculator.

FAQ: How to bet on the moneyline | How to make a parlay

Kent State Props

Props let you bet on individual players or specific moments within a game. You’ve probably seen stuff like:

• How many touchdown passes will QB Devin Kargman throw?
• Will RB Ky Thomas rush for more than 65 yards?
• First team to score? First touchdown scorer?

Player props are fun, but not available in every state for college games. Rules vary depending on where you live and which book you’re using. So if traditional books don’t offer props on Kent State games, platforms like PrizePicks (which operate under DFS rules) might let you pick player stat lines instead.

FAQ: How prop betting works

Kent State Futures

Futures are bets that settle at the end of the season, think big picture.

You can bet:

• Kent State to win the MAC
• Win total Over/Under 1.5
• Longshot CFP odds (hey, weirder things have happened… just not in this timeline)

If you believe Year 2 under Kenni Burns turns into something real, futures are where you plant the flag early and hope it pays off later. Just shop the line: books can be all over the place when it comes to longshots.

For a full list of college football futures, click or tap here.

Make sure to check out our sportsbook reviews for more information on what’s available in your state and exclusive sign-up bonuses + promo codes.