Point Spread: Indiana Double-Digit Favorite in Rematch With High-Scoring Kennesaw State

Indiana has won all of its games against mid-major foes, but they are just 1-4 against the point spread. It's a similar situation Friday when the Hoosiers take on Kennesaw State in the final nonconference game of the season. Here's the latest on the point spread, plus a record over/under line. Also a great history of both teams against the spread this year.

Tom Brew | Dec 29, 2023

Point Spread: Indiana Double-Digit Favorite in Rematch With High-Scoring Kennesaw State /

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana wraps up the nonconference portion of its schedule on Friday night with a rematch against Kennesaw State of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

The two teams met at the same time last year, with the Hoosiers winning 69-55, but it was tied midway through the second half. Indiana played without All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis (sore back) that night.

Indiana is a 12.5-point favorite in this game, which starts at 6 p.m. ET at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The SISportsbook.com gambling website has the over/under listed at 160.5 points, which is by far the highest for an Indiana game this season.

Indiana has not been good against the spread in these mid-major games. They've won all five games, but have only covered in one, last Thursday's game against North Alabama.

Both teams are different this year, of course, and the Owls really like to push the ball under first-year coach Antione Pettway. Kennesaw averages 85.4 points per game, which ranks No. 18 in the country through Thursday out of 351 teams.

Indiana, by the way, averages 74.3 points per game, which ranks No. 193. This is the last tuneup for Indiana before Big Ten play starts on Jan. 3 against Nebraska.

This game is not on regular TV, and is available only on the BTN-Plus streaming service. For information on how to watch, CLICK HERE. There is a link below for multiple Big Ten-Plus purchase options.

It's a good night to follow Jack Ankony's live blog straight from press row at Assembly Hall. Here's the link to that story, which will go live before the game starts. CLICK HERE

ndiana Hoosiers guard CJ Gunn (11) passes the ball over Kennesaw State Owls guard Kasen Jennings (13) during the December 2022 meeting between the two teams. They play again on Friday :: Robert Goddin/USA TODAY Sports

Here's what the Hoosiers have done against the spread so far this season:

Indiana by the numbers

Indiana overall record: 9-3
Indiana overall vs. spread: 5-7
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Indiana home record: 6-1
Indiana home vs. spread: 3-4
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Indiana road record: 1-0
Indiana road vs spread: 1-0
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Indiana neutral court record: 2-2
Indiana neutral court vs. spread: 1-3
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Indiana record as favorite: 8-0
Indiana vs. spread as favorite: 3-5
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Indiana record as underdog: 1-3
Indiana vs. spread as underdog: 2-2
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Indiana over total: 6
Indiana under total: 6

For every game, we'll give you a complete rundown on what both teams have done against the spread. We'll have final scores, what they did versus the spread and what happened with the over/under totals.

Indiana results vs. spread this season

Here's what Indiana has done this season, straight up and against the spread:

Nov. 7 — Beat Florida Gulf Coast 69-63 at home as an 11.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (132) went under the 142.5 over/under total.
Nov. 12 — Beat Army 72-64 at home as a 25.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (138) went over the 134.5 total.
Nov. 16 — Beat Wright State 89-80 at home as a 15.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (169) went far over the 146.5 total.
Nov. 19 — Lost to No. 5 Connecticut 77-57 at Madison Square Garden in New York as a 12.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (134) went under the 146.5 total.
Nov. 20 — Beat Louisville 74-66 at Madison Square Garden in New York as an 8.5-point favorite at tipoff (did not cover). The score (140) went under the 146.5 total.
Nov. 26 — Beat Harvard 89-76 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as an 7.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (165) went far over the 140.5 total.
Dec. 1 — Beat Maryland 65-53 at home as a 3.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (117) went far under the 136.5 total.
Dec. 5 — Won at Michigan 78-75 as a 6.5-point underdog at tipoff (covered). The score (153) went over the 144.5 total.
Dec. 9 — Lost to Auburn 104-76 in Atlanta as a 6.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (180) went far over the 147.5 total.
Dec. 16 — Lost at home to No. 2 Kansas 75-71 as a 7.5-point underdog at tipoff (covered). The score (146) went under the 147.5 total.
Dec. 19 — Beat Morehead State 69-68 as a 12.5-point favorite at tipoff (did not cover). The score (137) went under the 141.5 total.
Dec. 21 — Beat North Alabama 83-66 as a 13.5-point favorite at tipoff (did not cover). The score (149) went over the 147.5 total.

Kennesaw State results vs. spread this season

Kennesaw State is 9-4 overall, and has played six true road games so far, going 2-4.

The Lions opened the season ranked No. 223 in the Kenpom.com computer rankings, and now they're at No. 209 as of Friday morning.

Kennesaw State has played 11 games with a point spread, and they are an impressive 8-3 vs. the number. Here's another trend: Nine of their 11 games have gone over the total.

Here's what Kennesaw State has done this season, straight up and against the spread:

Nov. 7 — Beat Oakwood 93-46 at home as a 43.5-point favorite (covered). The score (139) went under the 141.5 over/under total.
Nov. 10— Lost at Florida State 94-67 as a 10.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (161) went over the 153.5 over/under total.
Nov. 15 — Beat Keiser 101-55 at home. No line
Nov. 19— Beat Georgia Southern 96-92 at Pirate Classic quarterfinals in Greenville, N.C. as a 3.5-point favorite (covered). The score (188) went over the 149.5 over/under total.
Nov. 20— Beat Northeastern 79-77 at Pirate Classic semifinals in Greenville, N.C. as a 2.5-point underdog (covered). The score (188) went over the 149.5 over/under total.
Nov. 21— Lost to East Carolina 85-84 at Pirate Classic finals in Greenville, N.C. as a 6.5-point underdog (covered). The score (169) went over the 157.5 over/under total.
Nov. 26 — Lost at Florida International 91-84 as a 2.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (175) went over the 162.5 over/under total.
Dec. 2— Beat Georgia State 88-77 at home as a 2.5-point favorite (covered). The score (165) went over the 161.5 over/under total.
Dec. 5 — Beat UNC-Asheville 79-76 in overtime at home as a 2.5-point favorite (covered). The score (165) went over the 161.5 over/under total.
Dec. 9— Won at South Carolina-Upstate 84-77 as a 3.5-point favorite (covered). The score (161) went over the 154.5 over/under total.
Dec. 16— Won at Presbyterian 94-84 as a 5.5-point favorite (covered). The score (178) went over the 158.5 over/under total.
Dec. 19— Beat Brescia 91-59 67 at home. No line
Dec. 23— Lost at UNC-Asheville 79-70 as a 4.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (149) went under the 162.5 over/under total.

Indiana by the numbers

Indiana results vs. spread this season

Kennesaw State results vs. spread this season

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