Akron Zips vs Ohio Bobcats Prediction, 2/22/2025 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Akron Zips vs Ohio Bobcats

Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025

Location: Convocation Center (OH) in Cincinnati, OH

TV: ESPN+

The Akron Zips (21-5) are headed to Convocation Center (OH) on Saturday where they will meet the Ohio Bobcats (14-12).

The Akron Zips faced Northern Illinois and took home the win by a score of 73-63 in their last contest. Akron ended the contest with a 42.9% field goal percentage (24 of 56) and converted 5 of their 21 shots from 3-point land. From the charity stripe, the Zips buried 20 of 26 attempts for a rate of 76.9%. With respect to pulling down boards, they compiled 38 with 5 of them being of the offensive variety. They also recorded 15 assists for the matchup while creating 8 turnovers and having 6 steals. In regard to the defense, Akron let their opponent shoot 35.0% from the floor on 21 of 60 shooting. Northern Illinois earned 11 dimes and had 5 steals in the matchup. Moreover, Northern Illinois collected 27 rebounds (2 offensive, 25 defensive), but finished the game with no rejections. Northern Illinois finished the game shooting 66.7% at the charity stripe by making 12 of 18 shots. They also converted 9 out of their 35 tries from distance. In relation to personal fouls, the Zips finished with 18 while Northern Illinois had 21 personal fouls.

Shammah Scott is a guy who was a contributor for this game. He accounted for 15 points on 5 of 7 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 28 minutes played and also totaled 5 boards. He finished the game at 71.4% from the floor and recorded 4 assists.

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Akron heads into this contest with a win-loss record of 21-5 on the year. They are averaging 84.2 points per game (9th in Division 1) while connecting on 46.8% from the floor. The Zips are connecting on 36.2% on three-point shots (291 of 803) and 74.9% from the charity stripe. As a team, Akron is pulling in 39.9 boards per game and has racked up 488 dimes so far this year, which ranks 3rd in college hoops in terms of passing the ball. They lose possession via turnover 12.5 times per contest and as a group they commit 18.2 fouls per game.

On the defensive end, the Zips are able to force 13.0 turnovers per game and they draw 16.3 personal fouls. They currently rank 58th in D-1 in allowing assists with 306 relinquished on the season. The Zips defense is allowing an opponent FG percentage of 41.8% (670 of 1,602) and they surrender 35.4 rebounds per game as a group. They are giving up 30.9% from beyond the arc and they are 232nd in D-1 in points per game allowed (73.4).

The last time they took the hardwood, the Ohio Bobcats walked away with a victory by a final of 84-82 when they played Central Michigan. The Bobcats collected 21 defensive boards and 6 offensive rebounds totaling 27 for the contest. They also turned the ball over 4 times, while getting 3 steals in this game. Central Michigan committed 17 personal fouls for the contest which got the Bobcats to the charity stripe for 20 shots. They were able to knock down 14 of the free throws for a rate of 70.0%. Concerning shooting from beyond the arc, Ohio knocked down 14 out of their 29 tries (48.3%). When this game wrapped up, the Bobcats went 28 out of 64 from the floor which gave them a rate of 43.8%. The Bobcats allowed Central Michigan to convert 23 of 54 tries from the floor which left them with a shooting percentage of 42.6% in this contest. They shot 50.0% from 3-point land by connecting on 9 of 18 and finished the contest at 27 of 35 from the charity stripe (77.1%). With respect to how they cleaned up the glass, Ohio allowed Central Michigan to collect 30 overall (4 on the offensive glass).

Jackson Paveletzke pitched in for the Bobcats for this contest. He scored 22 points in his 35 minutes on the court and totaled 4 assists for the matchup. He knocked down 8 out of 12 for this game for a field goal rate of 66.7%, and earned 6 rebounds.

Ohio has a record of 14-12 on the season. The Bobcats are committing 17.7 personal fouls every game and they shoot 76.8% from the free throw line. Their rate of dishing out assists is at 14.4 times per game (130th in college) and they lose possession via turnover 11.2 times per game. Ohio has accumulated 2,076 points on the season (79.8 per contest) and they grab 33.5 rebounds per contest. As an offense, the Bobcats are hitting on 47.1% from the floor, which ranks them 65th in college.

The Bobcats are ranked 285th in D-1 in PPG allowed with 75.6. They are able to force 12.9 TO's per game and allow teams to shoot 45.0% from the field (254th in Division 1). The Ohio defense concedes 38.2% on three-point shots (197 of 516) and opponents are knocking down 68.7% of their shots from the charity stripe. They surrender 13.2 assists and 35.3 rebounds every game, which ranks them 189th and 245th in Division 1.

Who will win tonight's NCAA game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Akron

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