Lamar Cardinals vs Akron Zips NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/22/24
Looking to win big? The Cardinals and Zips face off at 6:00 ET on ESPN+. The Zips are hosting the game at James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, OH. The over/under for this game is set at 144.5 points, and Akron is favored by -10.5 against Lamar in a non-conference matchup.
LAMAR CARDINALS VS AKRON ZIPS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Lamar Cardinals +10.5
This game will be played at James A. Rhodes Arena at 6:00 ET on Friday, November 22nd.
WHY BET THE LAMAR CARDINALS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Zips.
- Even though we have Akron winning straight-up, we like Lamar at +10.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 144.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Can the Cardinals Lock in a Road Win?
The Cardinals fell to Sam Houston 85-72 on Sunday, November 17th. Lamar, playing at home, entered the game as +6.5 point underdogs and didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 157, surpassing the pre-game over/under line of 149.
After trailing 41-37 at halftime, Lamar couldn’t close the gap in the 2nd half, scoring 35 points while allowing 44.
Lamar’s offense struggled from the field, shooting just 35.9% overall and 27.3% from three-point range in their last game. Despite their shooting woes, they managed to score 72 points, thanks in part to 20 made free throws at an 80% clip and 22 offensive rebounds.
Lamar Wilkerson led the way, hitting 6 threes at 60% efficiency and finishing with 28 points. Kalifa Sakho was also efficient, shooting 75% from the field and adding 22 points and 6 rebounds.
Despite giving up 85 points, the Lamar Cardinals held their opponents to just 35% shooting from the field. They limited damage from beyond the arc, where their opponents shot 27% on 6/22 attempts.
However, Lamar sent their opponents to the free-throw line 25 times, where they converted 20 free throws for 80%. The Cardinals also allowed 22 offensive rebounds.
Does Akron Stand a Chance at Home?
Akron’s season opener didn’t go as planned, as they fell 87-68 to Saint Mary’s on Tuesday. The Zips were +14.5 point underdogs heading into the game and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 155, surpassing the over/under line of 136.5.
After trailing 38-30 at halftime, Akron couldn’t keep pace with the Gaels in the second half, where they allowed 49 points while scoring 38 of their own.
Akron’s offense struggled inside in their last game, shooting just 28.9% on two-point attempts. Overall, they hit 35.8% from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 44.8%. The Zips connected on 44.8% of their threes, making 13 of 29 attempts.
Mikey Lewis led the team with 18 points, hitting 4 of 6 from deep. Amani Lyles also impressed from beyond the arc, making 5 of 6 threes and finishing with 15 points. Paulius Murauskas contributed 17 points and 15 rebounds, while Augustas Marciulionis dished out 11 assists.
Akron’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 87 points on 50% shooting. The Zips allowed 30 two-point field goals on 51 attempts, a 58% success rate for their opponent.
From beyond the arc, Akron held their opponent to 26% shooting, with just 5 made threes on 19 attempts. However, they sent them to the line 18 times, where they converted 12 free throws. Akron also allowed 20 offensive rebounds.