Kennesaw State Owls vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Picks and Predictions for Thursday March 12 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/12/2026, 01:15 AM ET

The Kennesaw State Owls face the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the CUSA Championship Quarterfinal on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET with television coverage on ESPN+. Western Kentucky enters the matchup as a 1.5-point favorite with the total set at 159.5, and the moneylines were off at the time of this writing. Be sure to also check out our free college basketball picks for additional insights on today’s college basketball action.

Owls Bringing Strong Rebounding into Tournament Play

The Kennesaw State Owls enter this Conference USA tournament matchup with an 18-13 overall record and a 10-10 mark in conference play. Kennesaw State has had mixed results recently, recently lost to New Mexico State 79-76, recently lost to UTEP 78-71, recently won over Delaware 90-82, recently won over Liberty 74-65, and recently won over Louisiana Tech 58-55.

Kennesaw State averages 83.5 points per game while allowing 76.3 points per contest this season. The Owls shoot 44% from the field and average an impressive 40.6 rebounds along with 14.5 assists per game. Defensively they contribute 5.4 blocks and 6.9 steals per contest.

One of the biggest strengths for Kennesaw State has been their rebounding dominance. Averaging over 40 rebounds per game gives them the ability to control possessions and create second-chance scoring opportunities.

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Hilltoppers Hoping to Use Offense to Advance

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers enter this tournament matchup with an 18-13 overall record and an 11-9 conference record. Western Kentucky has experienced mixed results recently, recently lost to FIU 92-67, recently lost to Missouri State 87-74, recently won over UTEP 97-65, recently won over New Mexico State 93-70, and recently won over Liberty 94-73.

Western Kentucky averages 79.0 points per game while allowing 75.5 points per contest this season. The Hilltoppers shoot 41% from the field and average 39.1 rebounds along with 13.4 assists per game. Defensively they contribute 2.4 blocks and 7.7 steals per contest.

One of the strengths for Western Kentucky has been their ability to score in bunches when their offense gets going. With several games recently reaching the 90-point range, the Hilltoppers have shown they can create explosive scoring runs.

Kennesaw State Owls vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Pick

Pick: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers -1.5

Western Kentucky has shown the ability to score quickly and create separation when their offense gets into rhythm. Even though they have dropped two of their last games, their offensive potential still makes them dangerous in tournament play.

Kennesaw State rebounds well and scores efficiently, but their recent losses suggest they may struggle to keep pace if Western Kentucky establishes early offensive momentum. With the Hilltoppers also averaging nearly 80 points per game, they appear to have the edge in a close matchup.

Kennesaw State Owls vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Total Pick

Pick: Over 159.5

I expect this matchup to feature a fast pace with plenty of scoring opportunities. Kennesaw State averages more than 83 points per game while Western Kentucky also scores around 79 points per contest.

Because both teams are capable of putting up points and neither defense consistently shuts opponents down, I believe this matchup has strong potential to push past the total.

Final Score Prediction: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 85, Kennesaw State Owls 80

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