The Akron Zips take on the Arizona Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off is set for 7:35 p.m. ET on truTV.
Arizona is favored by 14.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -1200. The total is set at 166 points.
Here are my Akron vs. Arizona predictions and college basketball picks for March 21, 2025.
Akron vs Arizona Prediction
My Pick: Over 166.5 (Play to 167.5)
My Akron vs Arizona best bet is on the over, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Akron vs Arizona Odds, Lines
| Akron Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14.5 -110 | 166 -110o / -110u | +750 |
| Arizona Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14.5 -110 | 166 -110o / -110u | -1200 |
- Akron vs Arizona spread: Arizona -14.5
- Akron vs Arizona over/under: 166 points
- Akron vs Arizona moneyline: Arizona -1200, Akron +750
- Akron vs Arizona best bet: Over 166.5 (Play to 167.5)
My Akron vs Arizona NCAAB Betting Preview
The Akron Zips take their MAC Championship into the NCAA Tournament and will be tested immediately against the Arizona Wildcats. The high-flying Zips are an explosive offensive team and can be extremely dangerous when they're clicking.
The Wildcats are no strangers to a high-octane offense, as they love to play with a quick tempo. The Cats are 14.5-point favorites on Friday night, but I will not target the spread.
As soon as the matchup dropped on Selection Sunday, I knew I would be looking to target the total. This is a terrific spot to take an over.
It seems a tad high at 166.5, but with how these offenses can explode, many paths exist for it to soar over. The most straightforward path to the over rests on the Zips' shoulders.
The Zips are in the top 50 in the following offensive metrics, per KenPom:
- Effective Field-Goal Percentage
- 3-Point Percentage
- 2-Point Percentage
Despite not getting to the line too often, they also shoot 75% from the charity stripe as a team. Backcourt tandem Tavari Johnson and Sharron Young are flamethrowers from deep, both shooting 40% from beyond the arc.
What's also noteworthy is that the Cats don't defend the perimeter particularly well, so the Zips should have plenty of chances to cash in from deep.
They're also among the top 20 in the country in tempo, so I expect a ton of quick trips down the floor to get as many shot attempts up as possible.
They're among the smallest teams in the country, but that should not prevent them from getting opportunities to cash in from deep. I expect the Zips to get out in transition as much as possible to prevent the Cats from setting up their half-court defense.
Not only do the Zips love to go fast on offense, but so do the Cats. They're also an excellent offensive group that should take advantage of Akron's small size inside.
The Wildcats shoot just 32% from deep but are like the Zips and thrive in transition. Their size will cause major issues for the Zips defensively, and they rank inside the top 75 in free-throw attempts per game.
Arizona is also outstanding on the offensive glass, which should lead to many easy putback opportunities. The Cats will cash in from the free-throw line and inside the arc all evening long without taking much time off the clock.
I'd be stunned to see a slow tempo here, so don't expect either offense to cool down until the late stages.
As long as the Zips offense can keep the game within reach, the Wildcats won't be able to bleed the clock.
Expect a track meet in Seattle on Friday night.
