The Kent State Golden Flashes were coming off what would have been considered an otherwise solid season of 20-13 straight up, which included a conference record of 11-7. But that was only good for fifth place in the tough Mid-American Conference East Division.
Worse still, Kent State finished only 13-15 against the college basketball gambling lines. The streaky Golden Flashes did cover seven of their final eleven games in the regular season before going 1-2 ATS in the post season, which ended with a first round loss in the NIT.
Anything possible
Life in the MAC, like in most other mid-major conferences, meant that anything was possible and the stories of “worst to first” and vice versa were as plentiful as there were teams. That meant that anything was possible for a team like Kent State, which had shown the ability to be a solid contender in 2004-05.
Slow start
The Golden Flashes began the 2005-06 season with a disappointing home loss to Delaware State 56-65. That was followed by a 94-67 home win over Austin Peay as a 12.5-point chalk. But from there, the Golden Flashes were to suffer a slow start against the college basketball betting lines.
Kent State’s problems began in a neutral court game against Rutgers, who beat them 55-52 in a pick’em affair. That was followed by a neutral court unlined win over Texas-Pan American.
Back on the board at Youngstown State, the Golden Flashes scored a 77-69 win but failed to cover as 11-point overlays. The same thing happened in their next game at home against Cleveland State, which Kent State won 83-68 as 16-point overlays. That was followed by an unlined 86-61 home win over IUPU Ft. Wayne. Back on the board at Southern Illinois, Kent State lost 51-58 as 4.5-point dogs before an unlined 88-76 win at Concordia CA.
The Golden Flashes returned to the board with a 59-61 win at St. Mary’s as 3.5-point dogs and that was followed by a 66-78 loss at Syracuse as 12-point dogs for a push. In their MAC opener at home against Toledo, the Golden Flashes scored a 76-68 win as 5-point chalks but then failed to cover a 66-60 win at Central Michigan as 11-point chalks.
Cash cows
As MAC play heated up, so too did Kent State beginning with an 84-71 home win over Ball State as 9-point chalks. That was followed by a 74-64 win at Eastern Michigan as 6.5-point chalks. Next came a 77-62 home win over Western Michigan as 12-point favorites for a third consecutive payoff.
Kent State remained in the role of cash cows with a 72-61 win at Northern Illinois as 2.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 53-46 win at Miami-Ohio as 3-point dogs. The five game payoff streak finally ended with a 74-79 home loss to Bowling Green as 13.5-point chalks.
Cranking out more cash
Kent State went right back in the black however starting with a 70-52 home win over Buffalo as 7-point chalks. That was followed by a 73-60 win at Ohio as 3.5-point dogs. Then came a 63-57 home win over Akron as 4-point chalks for a third straight payoff. The streak ended with a 44-60 loss at Toledo as 1.5-point chalks.
Kent State immediately resumed cranking out more cash starting with a 67-55 home win over Northern Illinois as 7.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 111-107 win at Buffalo in overtime as 1-point chalks. After an 80-76 overtime win over Butler as 5-point home overlays, Kent State resumed the payoffs with an 82-66 win at Bowling Green as 6.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 70-63 home win over Miami-Ohio as 6.5-point chalks and then a 78-58 home win over Ohio as 8-point chalks before the regular season ended with a 67-75 loss at Akron as 3.5-point dogs as the Golden Flashes paid off in thirteen of their final seventeen games.
In post season Kent won the MAC title to make the NCAA, where they lost to Pitt to finish 3-1 SU & ATS in post season action.