The first half of the college basketball season is winding down, and tonight offers a perfect bounce back spot that cannot be ignored. Purdue's Fletcher Loyer is coming off a rough outing against Auburn, missing every shot from deep. The Golden Flashes have struggled to defend the perimeter all season, which makes this matchup too juicy to pass up. With nearly ten days of rest and the home crowd behind him, Loyer has the chance to turn it around in a big way. Tonight, all eyes should be on his three-point shooting.
Kent State vs. #5 Purdue: Odds & Props | December 29, 2025
Written by: Colby Marchio
Last Update: Tue Dec 30, 2025, 10:31 am ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
ncaab
FINAL
Kent State Golden Flashes
60
Purdue Boilermakers
101
Write Up Transparency
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Last 7 Days: 5-12 (-9.7 Units)
Last 30 Days: 40-30 (+5.18 Units)
Awful week. Fading may be the move.
Kent State vs. #5 Purdue Odds
Can Fletcher Loyer bounce back from a terrible outing against Auburn?
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Spread
Kent State: +26.5 (-112)
Purdue: -26.5 (-108)
Total
Over: 156.5 (-109)
Under: 156.5 (-111)
Moneyline
Kent State: N/A
Purdue: N/A
Kent State vs. #5 Purdue Best Bet
The first half of the college basketball season is coming to a close this week. Non conference matchups are winding down and teams are turning their attention to league play. Tonight, No. 5 Purdue hosts Kent State after dismantling Auburn by 28 on December 20th. The Golden Flashes, on the other hand, are coming off a ten point win over UMass on the 20th as well. Both teams enter this matchup with nearly ten days of rest. One side is trying to make a statement before conference play begins, while the other is already looking ahead to a road trip to Madison on Saturday to face Wisconsin. The question remains, who can we trust?
Bounce Back Loyer
I do not have a lean on the side or the total, but I love a classic bounce back spot. Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer is in a great position tonight against the Golden Flashes. In Purdue's last game versus Auburn, the senior shot 2 for 10 from the floor and missed all seven attempts from beyond the arc. I expect a strong response, which is why I am targeting the alternate over of 3.5 made threes. His standard prop sits at over 2.5, but the price is sitting at -160, and I am not interested in paying that type of juice.
Despite the recent shooting dip, Loyer remains lethal from deep. He attempts 6.3 threes per game and is averaging roughly 2.7 makes per contest. He has cleared this number in four of his 12 games this season, all of which came against weaker competition. The best team he knocked down 4 threes against was Memphis, where he finished four for ten from long range.
True Test Incoming
Kent State grades out as one of the worst perimeter defensive teams in the country, currently ranked 314th. They are also allowing the 60th most three-point attempts nationally. To make matters worse, Purdue will be the first opponent the Golden Flashes have faced that ranks not only inside the top ten, but inside the top 100. The best team Kent State has played this season was UNC Wilmington. Haslametrics currently ranks the Golden Flashes 318th in strength of schedule, while Purdue sits with the 17th toughest slate.
Purdue plays at a very slow tempo, ranking 24th slowest on Haslametrics. Kent State prefers to run, ranking 28th fastest. That said, the home team typically dictates pace, especially when there is a clear talent gap. Even so, pace does not concern me here. The Boilermakers rank eighth in three-point percentage and 198th in three-point rate. They are shooting at an elite level this season while remaining disciplined and selective with their looks.
For plus money, I think it is worth taking a risk on Loyer to get right before taking on Wisconsin on later in the week. If you are worried about him getting over 3.5, take the 2.5 and parlay it with something else you like on today's slate for plus money.
Best Bet: Fletcher Loyer Over 3.5 Made Threes (+155) on Lucky Rebel
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Former D1 (club) baseball player, Colby has been betting since his college days at DePaul, where he had to endure the worst collegiate basketball the Big East has ever seen. He is an advanced analytics nerd and has never seen an underdog he has not liked. Hot. Corn. Bull. It does not matter the dog he loves them all.
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