The 14th-seeded
Akron Zips (28-6) face the fourth-seeded
Arizona Wildcats (22-12) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday in Seattle. Tip-off from Climate Pledge Arena is at 7:35 p.m. ET (truTV). Let’s analyze
BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the
Akron vs. Arizona odds , and make our expert
college basketball picks and predictions . Akron won the MAC with a 17-1 conference record and then won the conference tournament, capped by a 76-74 win over Miami of Ohio Saturday though the Zips didn’t cover as 6.5-point favorites. MAC Player of the Year F
Nate Johnson scored a game-high 22 points, including the game-winning shot with 2 seconds remaining. The Zips trailed by 12 at the half. They enter the NCAA Tourney on a 7-game win streak and have won 21 of their last 22. Arizona, No. 20 in the
USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll , finished in fourth in the Big 12 with a 14-6 conference record. The Wildcats won their first 2 games of the Big 12 Tournament, but lost to top-seeded and second-ranked Houston 72-64 in the title game Saturday. F
Caleb Love led the ‘Cats, who were 5-point underdogs, in a losing effort with 19 points, shooting 7-for-19 overall and 2-for-9 from 3. He leads Arizona with 16.6 points per game.
Akron vs. Arizona odds
Provided by
BetMGM Sportsbook ; access
USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:05 a.m. ET.
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Prediction
While Akron (+750) has the better record, Arizona (-1200) nearly won the Big 12 Conference Tournament in one of the most competitive conferences in the country. As mentioned, Akron has won 21 of its last 22 games. However, the Zips had the 222nd-ranked schedule in the nation and did not face an opponent of Arizona’s caliber. The Zips earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the MAC Tourney. Sure, it’s March Madness, but don’t expect Cinderella to dance here. Meanwhile, there is never a reason to bet a favorite at -1200 odds.
PASS .
Now, will this game be close? That’s a different story. In the two 4-13 seed matchups Thursday, each favorite won but neither was by more than 12 points. Texas A&M beat Yale by 9, while Purdue beat Hight Point by 12. Both offenses in this one will score. Akron ranks eighth in the country with an 84.6 points per game (PPG) average, while Arizona is 22nd at 81.7 PPG. Arizona had only 1 win by more than 13 points in its last 15 games.
BET AKRON +14.5 (-
110 ).
While both teams average in the 80’s offensively, not a single game in the first round on Thursday finished with 167 or more points.
BET UNDER 166.5 (-
110 ).
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