The No. 5-seed Buffalo Bulls (19-10) and No. 4 Akron Zips (21-9) battle in a Thursday Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinal in Cleveland. The contest at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse is slated to tip off at 1:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Buffalo vs. Akron odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Buffalo went 13-6 in the conference, finishing fifth. Senior F Jeenathan Williams averaged 20.5 points per game over his last six outings and is the MAC’s fourth-leading scorer on the season (19.2 PPG). The Bulls won nine straight games from Feb. 5-26, but they closed out the regular season with two straight losses.
Akron went 14-6 in the MAC, tying for third. With a playing style that runs counter to their name, the Zips grind out slow-tempo games. Since Jan. 22, they are 10-4 and held opponents to 64 points or less nine times. In its only meeting with Buffalo, however, Akron won 88-76 at home Jan. 1.
See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo vs. Akron odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 11:57 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Buffalo -140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Akron +115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Buffalo -1.5 (-120) | Akron +1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
[tipico]
Buffalo vs. Akron odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Buffalo 76, Akron 73
Money line
The lean is Buffalo (-140), but the price is just a bit out of bounds.
Against the spread
The trends in this MAC tortoise-and-hare matchup point to Akron. The slow-’em-down Zips are 5-0 ATS against the circuit’s three fastest squads (Buffalo, Bowling Green, Ball State). Up-tempo Buffalo is 1-4 ATS against the three slowest MAC teams (Akron, Kent State, Western Michigan).
But Akron may struggle at the outset of this one. The Zips have played a very weak schedule of late. While they have played fast teams tough the season, this particular draw — an athletic, high-energy Bulls team — may put Akron behind the eight-ball. Having Williams gives Buffalo an ace up its sleeve.
On just a slight lean (consider a partial-unit play), TAKE BUFFALO -1.5 (-120).
Over/Under
The Over is 3-1 across the last four games of this series. Slow Akron was dragged into four Overs in the five aforementioned games against quick MAC foes.
With UB’s offensive rebounding, UA’s free-throw rate and the overall frequency from distance, this one seems more destined for 150 than 140. TAKE OVER 141.5 (-112).
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