- The Zips are a perfect 14-0 at home this season and have only lost one game in conference play (14-1).
- Kent State has not beaten Akron since the 2022-23 season, losing the last four consecutive matchups between the two, while winning just four of the previous 13.
AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips host the Kent State Golden Flashes in a MAC showdown on Friday night. The Zips took home a victory in the first matchup, beating Kent State on their home floor 85-71 in late January.
Kent State vs Akron Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State | +3.5 (-105) | +145 | O 156.5 (-110) |
| Akron | -3.5 (-115) | -170 | U 156.5 (-110) |
College basketball sportsbooks online favor Akron by just three and a half points despite winning the first matchup by 14 and owning the best record in the conference. They have lost just one game in the new year and have a blistering hot record of 15-1 since January 3rd.
These two faced off in the MAC championship last season, giving us one of the most unforgettable blunders in recent college basketball history.
Kent State comes into tonight’s matchup playing good basketball as well, winning six of their last seven. They are 19-9 overall and 9-6 in conference play.
| Team | PPG (Rank) | oPPG (Rank) |
|---|---|---|
| Kent State | 72.7 (176th) | 67.8 (57th) |
| Akron | 82.8 (11th) | 75.7 (259th) |
The Zips are known for their frantic pace of play, ranking 11th in the country in both possessions per game (75.2) and points per game (82.8). Their effective field goal percentage comes in at 54.8%, good for 44th in the country.
Akron is led by junior guards Nate Johnson and Tavari Johnson (not related), averaging 13.5 and 12.9 points respectively, but also boasts tremendous depth, with ten players averaging over 15 minutes per game.
However, it can be hard for the defense to keep up with the speed at which the Zips play, causing them to be one of the worst defenses in college basketball.
Advertising Disclosure
USAOnlineSportsbooks.com provides you with the most current information regarding sports betting and fantasy with the help of commissions we receive from links you may click on our site.
Kent State is on the other end of the spectrum. They average just 69.4 possessions per game (215th in the country), a much more deliberate and methodical attack than Akron. They rank 176th in points per game, just about dead center of the 364 qualifying teams.
Senior wing VonCameron Davis leads the charge for the Golden Flashes, averaging 15.5 points per game while shooting 45% from the field and 38% from three. In their first matchup, Davis scored just six points, shooting 2-12 from the field while giving up three turnovers.
Meanwhile, their defense ranks 57th in opponent points per game.
Best Bets
A high scoring affair should be in order for tonight, as the Zips look to score over 80 points for the 14th time in 17 games since the new year. In their last matchup, the total was 156, exactly on par with the line for tonight's game.
Online sportsbooks are expecting a shootout. Roll with the over as the 11th best scoring offense in the country gets some home cooking tonight.
- The Pick: O 156.5 (-110)
Additionally, look for the Zips to extend their perfect home record to 15-0. Kent State simply does not have the firepower to keep pace with Akron’s offense and would have to hope that their defense can slow them down enough to keep it close.
- The Pick: Akron -3.5 (-115)
Drew is currently a student at Florida State University majoring in Communication / Media Studies. He enjoys playing, watching, reading, and writing about sports. If you need to know anything about football or basketball, Drew’s your guy.
