by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Feb 24, 2022
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Venue: Convocation Center, Athens, OH
Where to watch: TBD
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
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BetMGM: Check back later
Caesars: Check back later
Season record
Akron: 18-9 (11-6 MAC)
Ohio: 23-5 (14-3 MAC)
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Akron - Ohio preview and analysis
Akron analysis
MACtion on a Friday ain't never been so good. And just when we think the MAC will take a day off and fall off the map with what we expected, we're just going to accept the MAC might have the best conference tournament in terms of deep talent this March.
One of those teams, surprisingly, appears to be the Akron Zips despite being fifth in the conference standings entering Friday's fun matchup against the first-place Ohio Bobcats. More on those folks in just a bit.
But while a win may not put Akron to first place with a few games to go in the regular season,, Akron is still fighting for solid positioning in the top four. They still trail Buffalo and Kent State for third and fourth, but the chance to catch Toledo or Ohio at the top might not be as great.
This is your reminder that the state of Ohio is just the mecca for basketball right now, especially in this conference.
Akron has won two straight after losing their previous three, coming off an 82-68 win over Bowling Green on Tuesday. Mikal Dawson led the way with 17 points, and Ali Ali's coolest name in the history finished with six assists. Defense has done well with Akron the last few games, not just winning by double digits, but giving up 68 and 48 points in the process because things like that need to be had in order to be taken seriously.
There's really no idea to think Akron will win this whole ordeal, but it definitely makes the situation intriguing. Just think about a win for the second. If Akron can, wait for it, Zip their way to victory, theses final games could have a lot of meaning.
Ohio analysis
The Ohio Bobcats might be the weirdest team I've ever seen. They're either one or the other; either they're destroying teams and winning by double digits, or getting molly whopped by teams when they lose. There's really no middle ground with them.
Case in point during Ohio's run of four wins in five games. Every win but one has been determined by double digits and in an emphatic fashion. Then you get to the Feb. 18 loss to Kent State, who might be the hottest team in the conference, and things just go all topsy turvy.
Ohio rebounded with a 76-50 win over Central Michigan on Tuesday night, let by a triple-double from big man Ben Vander Plas with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Tommy Schmock was not a shmuck on this night with 23 points on 8 of 15 shooting.
Basically, this is all to say we don't know what kind of Ohio team we're going to get on Friday. They could very well run the table the rest of the way and head into the NCAA Tournament with a ton of momentum. A lot can change within that time, but they need a win in this game. They're not overwhelming favorites, and Akron isn't a pushover, but it is absolutely a winnable game.
But as this season has taught us, not everything is what it seems. That includes such tomfoolery in this sport.
Prediction
The under has gone 9-3 in the last 12 road games for Akron, in which I don't think that's going to hurt Ohio's scorching offense. Whether it be Vander Plas or Mark Sears, I don't think Akron has anyone to slow either of them down. If it comes down to Enrique Freeman stopping Vander Plas in the paint, he'll need to have a game of his life. In the end, I just think Ohio is too good to let this slip and I'm on the Ohio hype train. Give me the Bobcats. Ohio by 12
Betting trends
Akron is 11-3 ATS as a road dog or pick in the past three seasons.
Akron is 74-45 ATS after failing to cover four or five of their last six.
Akron is 25-12 ATS following a home game.
Ohio is 31-15 ATS following three straight conference games the past three seasons.
Ohio is 12-2 ATS after allowing 25 points or less in the first half the previous game.
Projected starting lineup
Akron:
PG: Xavier Castaneda
SG: Greg Tribble
SF: Mikal Dawson
PF: Ali Ali
C: Enrique Freeman
Ohio:
PG: Miles Brown
SG: Mark Sears
SF: Ben Roderick
PF: Jason Carter
C: Ben Vander Pas
Statistical leaders
Akron:
Points: Ali Ali -- 13.8
Rebounds: Enrique Freeman -- 11.2
Assists: Ali Ali -- 2.7
Ohio:
Points: Mark Sears -- 19.3
Rebounds: Ben Vander Pas -- 6.9
Assists: Mark Sears -- 4.0
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
