Akron Zips vs Bowling Green Falcons NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/3/25
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Zips and Falcons. The game is starting at 6:00 ET on CBSS, and it’s hosted by the Falcons at Stroh Center in Bowling Green, OH. Get ready to place your bets! Akron come into this Mid-American conference matchup as the -5.5 favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 154.5 points.
AKRON ZIPS VS BOWLING GREEN FALCONS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Bowling Green Falcons +5.5
This game will be played at Stroh Center at 6:00 ET on Friday, January 3rd.
WHY BET THE BOWLING GREEN FALCONS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Falcons.
- Not only will Bowling Green pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +5.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 154.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Will Akron Pull Through as the Favored Road Team?
The Zips fell to 5-5 on the season after a narrow 76-75 road loss to Princeton on Monday. Despite being +6.5 point underdogs, Akron kept it close and covered the spread. The game’s total points of 151 fell just short of the 154.5 O/U line.
Akron led 41-30 at halftime but couldn’t hold on, allowing 46 points in the 2nd half while scoring 34. The Zips will look to bounce back after letting this one slip away.
In their recent game, the Zips put up 75 points, shooting 42.2% from the field and 30.4% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 46.9%, with a strong showing at the free-throw line, hitting 82.4% of their attempts.
Xaivian Lee led the way with 19 points and 4 assists, shooting 52.9% from the field. Dalen Davis added 18 points and 6 assists, despite shooting just 29.4% overall and 22.2% from three. James Okonkwo contributed a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Akron’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 76 points on 49% shooting from the field. They allowed the opposing team to hit 56% of their two-point attempts, with 22 makes on 39 shots.
From beyond the arc, Akron’s opponents shot 35%, connecting on 7 of 20 three-point attempts. The Zips also sent them to the line 18 times, where they made 11 free throws, shooting 61%. Akron limited offensive rebounds, giving up just 5.
Will Bowling Green Make it Happen at Home?
Bowling Green Falcons Recent Game/Games
Bowling Green fell to 3-7 on the season after a 93-68 home loss to St. Thomas (MN) on Saturday. The Falcons entered the game as +3.5 underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 161, surpassing the pre-game O/U line of 154.5.
After trailing 46-20 at halftime, Bowling Green’s offense picked up in the 2nd half, scoring 48 points. However, they allowed 47 points in the 2nd half, preventing any chance of a comeback.
Bowling Green’s offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 37.3% from the field and 27.3% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 42.4%, and they managed only 5 assists as a team. However, they excelled at the free-throw line, hitting 18 of 20 attempts for a 90% success rate.
Miles Barnstable led the Falcons with 23 points, shooting 50% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc. Marcus Johnson contributed 16 points, hitting 4 of 7 threes, while Drake Dobbs added 18 points and 5 assists, shooting 60% overall.
Even with Bowling Green holding their opponent to just 37% shooting from the field, they still gave up 93 points. The Falcons allowed 16 two-point baskets on 37 attempts, a 43% success rate for the opposition.
From beyond the arc, Bowling Green’s defense limited their opponent to 6 threes on 22 attempts, a 27% shooting performance. However, the Falcons sent them to the line 20 times, where they converted 18 free throws at a 90% clip.