Akron vs. Buffalo MAC Tournament Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 9, 2023

The No. 3 seed Akron Zips (21-10, 13-5 MAC) are favored by 7.5 points in the MAC Tournament when they square off the No. 6 seed Buffalo Bulls (15-16, 9-9 MAC) Thursday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, beginning at 6:30 PM on ESPN+. The winner moves one game closer to claiming a guaranteed place in the NCAA Tournament bracket. The matchup has an over/under set at 146.5 points.

Akron vs. Buffalo Odds

• Akron odds to win: -342
• Buffalo odds to win: +268
• Spread: Akron (-7.5)
• Total: 146.5

Akron vs. Buffalo Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
• Time: 6:30 PM ET
• TV: ESPN+
• Where: Cleveland, Ohio
• Venue: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

Who Will Win Akron vs. Buffalo?

Akron and Buffalo Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Akron has a 7-4-1 record against the spread this season when favored by 7.5 points or more.

In games this season in which it was an underdog by 7.5 points or more, Buffalo has a 4-4 record against the spread.

The two teams average a combined 4.8 more points per game (151.3) than this game’s over/under of 146.5 points.

Akron and Buffalo have seen their opponents average a combined 3.4 fewer points per game than the over/under of 146.5 set in this matchup.

The average point total in Akron’s games this season is 6.4 fewer points than the over/under of 146.5 in this matchup.

The average total for Bulls games this year is eight more points than the point total of 146.5 in this outing.

The Zips’ ATS record is 11-17-1 this season.

The Bulls are 15-14-0 against the spread this season.

Akron Stats & Insights

Akron averages 73.8 points per game (127th in college basketball) while giving up 66.2 per outing (66th in college basketball). It has a +236 scoring differential overall and outscores opponents by 7.6 points per game.

Akron wins the rebound battle by an average of 3.7 boards. It is grabbing 32.2 rebounds per game (150th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 28.5 per contest.

The Zips connect on 9 three-pointers per game (34th in college basketball) at a 35.1% rate (127th in college basketball), compared to the 6.9 per game their opponents make at a 34.5% rate.

Akron ranks 58th in college basketball with 98.6 points scored per 100 possessions, and 93rd in college basketball defensively with 88.4 points conceded per 100 possessions.

When playing at home, the Zips are putting up 10.1 more points per game (79.9) than they are away from home (69.8).

Buffalo Stats & Insights

Buffalo has a +20 scoring differential, putting up 77.5 points per game (49th in college basketball) and conceding 76.9 (342nd in college basketball).

The 34.9 rebounds per game Buffalo accumulates rank 34th in the country, 3.3 more than the 31.6 its opponents grab.

Buffalo hits 7 three-pointers per game (223rd in college basketball) at a 32.4% rate (282nd in college basketball), compared to the 7.5 its opponents make, shooting 34.4% from deep.

Buffalo’s 92.9 points per 100 possessions on offense rank 206th in college basketball, and the 92.1 points it allows per 100 possessions rank 200th in college basketball.

The Bulls are scoring more points at home (82.2 per game) than away (74.6).

Akron Key Players to Watch

The leader in points and assists for the Zips is Xavier Castaneda, who scores 21.4 points and dishes out 2.9 assists per game.

Enrique Freeman is Akron’s best rebounder, pulling down an average of 11.1 boards in each contest while scoring 16.5 points per game.

Castaneda leads the Zips in three-point shooting, making an average of 3.5 shots per game from beyond the arc.

Nate Johnson and Freeman lead Akron on the defensive end, with Johnson leading the team in steals averaging 1.1 per game and Freeman in blocks averaging 1.1 per contest.

Buffalo Key Players to Watch

Curtis Jones averages 15.1 points per game to be the top scorer for the Bulls.

LaQuill Hardnett has a stat line of 7.2 rebounds, 10.8 points and 1.2 assists per game for Buffalo to take the top rebound spot on the team. Armoni Foster holds the top spot for assists with four per game, adding 8.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per matchup.

Jones is consistent from three-point range and leads the Bulls with 2.4 made threes per game.

Zid Powell (1.8 steals per game) is the steal leader for Buffalo while Jonnivius Smith (0.8 blocks per game) is the block leader.

Akron vs. Buffalo Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  Buffalo (+7.5)
  

• Pick OU:

  Over (146.5)
  

• Prediction:
  Akron 77, Buffalo 70

How to Bet on Akron vs. Buffalo

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