The MAC is in action Friday night for a matchup between the Kent State Golden Flashes (3-5, 2-2 MAC) and the Sacramento State Hornets (1-7, 0-5 MAC) at Hornet Stadium.
Check below for Kent State vs. Sacramento State predictions, picks, and odds ahead of Friday night’s 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff in Week 9 of the college football season.
Kent State vs. Sacramento State Odds
Kent State is coming off a win, while Sacramento State enters on a six-game losing streak. The Golden Flashes are listed as road favorites at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook for Friday night’s MACtion:
Kent State vs. Sacramento State Predictions
Before Saturday’s full college football slate, there are a handful of games on Friday to get through first. If you’re looking to get in on the football betting action, check out the available markets at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook for Friday night’s games, including our Kent State vs. Sacramento State prediction below:
Sacramento State vs. Kent State Best Bet: Over 46.5 Points (-110)
To be frank, neither offense has played that well this season. Kent State is averaging 14.9 points and 286 total yards of offense per game, while Sacramento State hasn’t been much better, averaging 15.3 points and 298.1 total yards per game.
So why take the Over Friday night? Neither defense has been that great either. The Golden Flashes are allowing 30.5 points per game this season, while the Hornets are allowing 32.9 points per game. Both teams also feature some game-changing offensive weapons that could feast on these defenses throughout the night.
Kent State wide receiver Wayne Harris is coming off a huge game in last week’s win over Akron, recording 156 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Harris leads the Golden Flashes with 552 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns this year.
Sacramento State also has a dangerous wide receiver of its own in Matt Coleman. Coleman leads the Hornets with 492 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns and will look to do some damage against a Kent State defense that allowed 275 receiving yards to Akron last week.
Turnovers have been an issue for both offenses this season, which could limit scoring depending on whether the opposing offenses can capitalize on those mistakes. However, that also means there’s potential for defensive or special teams touchdowns, so Friday night’s total may not have to rely solely on these subpar offenses.
- Sacramento State vs. Kent State Total Pick Oct. 30: Over 46.5 Points (-110)
Kent State vs. Sacramento State Betting Splits
Here’s how the action is trending at Hard Rock Bet for Kent State vs. Sacramento State:
- Sacramento State is drawing 67% of bets and 80% of the handle on the moneyline.
- The Hornets are also receiving more support on the spread, with 72% of bets and 80% of the handle.
- The total leans toward the Over, with 65% of bets and 75% of the handle.
Kent State vs. Sacramento State Preview for Friday Night
Kent State snapped a three-game losing streak with a 35-20 win over Akron last week. The Golden Flashes scored 28 second-half points and capitalized on a few Akron mistakes throughout the game.
After Kent State kicker Tommy Newcomb missed a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter, Akron missed a field goal of its own on the very next drive. Golden Flashes quarterback Dru DeShields then led an eight-play, 77-yard touchdown drive capped by a one-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Wayne Harris to tie the game 7-7 right before halftime.
DeShields later completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Harris to take a 28-17 lead after Akron turned it over on downs midway through the fourth quarter. Akron then muffed the ensuing kickoff, which was recovered by Kent State’s Tanner Mintz. That led to a one-yard touchdown run by DeShields three plays later, putting the Golden Flashes up 35-17 with under five minutes remaining.
On the other hand, things couldn’t be going much worse for Sacramento State. After a 7-5 season in the FCS’ Big Sky Conference in 2025, the Hornets joined the FBS’ MAC for 2026 and haven’t had quite the same success, entering Friday with a 1-7 record and sitting in last place in the conference.
The Hornets began the year with a 28-17 loss to Eastern Michigan, followed by a 52-0 win over Mississippi Valley State, but have since lost six straight games. Their most recent defeat was a 34-17 loss to Ball State last week.
The second quarter is where things got out of hand against Ball State. Sacramento State was outscored 20-7 in the quarter, and a costly fumble by quarterback Jackson Sharman late in the half led to a quick Ball State touchdown right before halftime to put the Hornets down 20-10.
Those types of mistakes can’t happen for Sacramento State Friday night if it has any plans of snapping this losing skid.
Kent State vs. Sacramento State Game Info
- š Where: Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, CA
- š Date: Friday, Oct. 30
- ā° Kickoff: 10:30 PM ET
- šŗš» TV/Streaming: ESPN2
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