Akron Zips vs Northern Illinois Huskies NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/28/25
Betting on today’s Zips and Huskies game? Catch the action at NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, IL, as the Huskies hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. Akron come into this Mid-American conference matchup as the -15.5 favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 153.5 points.
AKRON ZIPS VS NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Northern Illinois Huskies +15.5
This game will be played at NIU Convocation Center at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, January 28th.
WHY BET THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Huskies.
- Not only will Northern Illinois pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +15.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 153.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Will the Akron Defense Show Up on the Road?
Akron Zips Recent Game/Games
Akron improved to 12-5 on the season with a dominant 102-75 win over Miami (OH) on Saturday. Playing at home, the Zips entered the game as 8-point favorites and covered the spread. The final score exceeded the O/U line of 156.5, with the teams combining for 177 points.
Akron took control early, leading 52-28 at halftime. While they allowed 47 points in the 2nd half, they kept pace by scoring 50 points of their own to seal the win.
Akron’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 102 points on 55.4% shooting from the field. They connected on 44.1% of their three-point attempts, hitting 15 threes, and shot 67.7% from two-point range. Their effective field goal percentage for the game was an impressive 67.7%.
The Zips also shot 78.9% from the free-throw line, making 15 of 19 attempts, and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds. They dished out 21 assists, with Tavari Johnson leading the way with 6. Peter Suder led the team with 18 points, while Nate Johnson, Seth Wilson, and Brant Byers each added 14 points.
Akron’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 75 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 55% from the field. The Zips had a tough time defending inside, as their opponent hit 67% of their two-point attempts, going 21/31.
From beyond the arc, Akron’s defense allowed 15 threes on 34 attempts, a 44% shooting performance. The Zips also sent the other team to the line 19 times, where they converted 15 free throws, shooting 78%. Akron gave up 12 offensive rebounds in the game.
Will the Northern Illinois Defense Show Up at Home?
Northern Illinois Huskies Recent Game/Games
Northern Illinois improved to 2-14 on the season with a 76-66 win over Ball State on Saturday. The Huskies, who were +6.5 point underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
NIU took control early, leading 40-29 at halftime. While they allowed 37 points in the 2nd half, they scored 36 to seal the win. The game’s total points of 142 fell short of the 148 O/U line.
Northern Illinois put up 76 points in their last game, shooting 43.6% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 54.5%, thanks in large part to their 48.1% shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 13 of 27 attempts. They struggled inside, connecting on just 39.3% of their two-point shots.
At the free-throw line, the Huskies shot 57.7%, making 15 of 26 attempts. Nasir Muhammad led the way with 19 points, hitting 5 of 6 threes, while Quaran McPherson and James Dent Jr. each added 18 points, with McPherson also grabbing 10 rebounds.
Northern Illinois gave up 66 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 43% from the field. They held them to 39% on two-point attempts, as the other team went 11/28 inside the arc.
From three-point range, Northern Illinois allowed 13 threes on 27 attempts, a 48% shooting performance. The other team also shot 57% from the free-throw line, making 15 of 26. Northern Illinois gave up 7 offensive rebounds.