MAC Co-Leader Ohio 15-1 at Home
The Akron Zips have won two straight by double digits, which is a positive turnaround after the team had lost three in a row.
Now they take that momentum into a meeting with the co-leaders of the Mid-American Conference. The Ohio Bobcats are 14-3 in conference play and have won four of their last five.
Ohio won the first meeting between the teams in Akron, edging the Zips 69-63. While neither team is expected to be a factor for March Madness odds, which is the best option for those who bet online?
Akron Gets Creative on Offense
The Zips are 18-9 overall, which on the surface doesn’t seem bad, but they’re not going to be a factor in the NCAA Tournament. They are fifth in the MAC and will need to win the conference tournament to get in the NCAAs.
Akron is 5-4 since a 13-5 start to the season. While the last three losses were by a combined nine points, it’s still enough to sink them.
The Zips don’t just rely upon one player to generate their offense. They have four players that are scoring in double digits, starting with Ali Ali, who averages 13.8 points.
He led the team in scoring with 22 the last time that they played Ohio. Akron uses a bunch of different players to get the job done, but it must improve from being the 192nd team in the nation in points per game at 70.6.
Ohio Needs Win
Ohio needs to keep on winning if it want to grab top seed in the MAC tournament because the Bobcats will lose the tiebreaker to Toledo.
We have seen the Bobcats play great at times, especially when both Mark Sears and Ben Vander Plas get into a groove.
Sears is averaging 19.3 points and Vander Plas is pitching in an extra 13.6 a contest. This is a team that will want to come out and keep their foot on the gas to come away with the top seed.
Akron vs Ohio Head-to-Head
Akron leads the all-time season series against Ohio, 45-42. They squared off twice last season with each snagging a victory.
Akron at Ohio Game Information
- Game: Akron Zips (18-9) at Ohio Bobcats (23-5)
- Location: Convocation Center, Athens, OH
- Day/Time: Friday, 6 p.m. ET
- Television: CBS Sports Network
Akron vs Ohio Betting Lines
Akron vs Ohio Prediction
The Bobcats are favored in the sportsbook because they’re simply the better team and they have an explosive leading scorer in Sears.
The Bobcats are a good option for your college basketball picks because they’ve been covering big numbers recently. They beat Central Michigan by 26 points, Miami of Ohio by 13, Eastern Michigan by 18 and Central Michigan by nine.
Their last win by less than nine points was on Jan. 11, when they beat Bowling Green by seven. Lay the points with Ohio.
