The Eastern Michigan Eagles (4-12, 1-2 MAC) and Akron Zips (10-6, 2-1) meet for a Friday night Mid-American tussle. Tip time at James A. Rhodes Arena will be at 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Eastern Michigan vs. Akron odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Eastern Michigan is coming off a Tuesday loss — straight up and against the spread — against Western Michigan. The Eagles were defeated 85-79 and are 1-3 SU and ATS over their last 4 games. A youthful EMU squad is 2-8 SU over its last 8 games. During that stretch, it has yielded 79.8 points per game.
Akron is coming off a 74-70 win (as a -5 favorite) at Bowling Green. The Zips have dropped back-to-back games ATS. Straight up, they are 8-0 at home, but dating back to last season, UA is just 4-8 ATS in its last 12 lined games on home hardwood.
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Eastern Michigan at Akron odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:20 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Eastern Michigan +600 (bet $100 to win $600) | Akron -1000 (bet $1000 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Eastern Michigan +13.5 (-110) | Akron -13.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 143.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Eastern Michigan at Akron picks and predictions
Prediction
Akron 74, Eastern Michigan 59
Moneyline
Akron is the clearly superior team, with a hefty experience advantage. But this is a big price here on the moneyline.
PASS.
Against the spread
EMU’s recent performances have been either dodgy and ineffective or erratic. Or both. With a likable — and actionable — Under, the lean is on the Eagles plus the points. But AVOIDING this side has the stronger gravity.
Over/Under
The Under is: 7-1 in the Eagles’ last 8 games against winning teams. It’s 4-1 in the Zips’ last 5 games vs. foes playing .400 ball or worse and 9-1 across the last 10 series meetings (average margin 19.7 points in the 9 Unders).
Akron plays at a bottom-100 pace; Eastern Michigan plays fast but has been slowing over recent games. Don’t figure on any score-spiral components (2nd-chance and transition points, etc.) to get too loose, and there is some expected regression in EMU’s bad defensive numbers (55.8% effective field goal mark).
BACK THE UNDER 141.5 (-110).
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