Western Michigan Broncos vs Akron Zips Betting Pick & Prediction 1/16/24

The Broncos and Zips are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Zips will host the game at James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, OH. The over/under for this game is set at 145 points, and the Zips are the home favorites against the Broncos in a Mid-American conference matchup.

WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS VS AKRON ZIPS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Western Michigan Broncos +12.5

This game will be played at James A. Rhodes Arena at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, January 16th.

WHY BET THE WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-69 in favor of the Zips.
• Even though we have Akron winning straight-up, we like Western Michigan at +12.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 145 points, and we like the under with a projected 144 points.

Does Western Michigan Have A Chance at James A. Rhodes Arena?

Western Michigan has been an underdog in 13 of their 16 games this season, and they are 5-8 in those games. On the road, the Broncos have gone 2-5, and their average scoring margin is -8.9 points per game.

After starting the season 4-9, Western Michigan has won three straight games. Their most recent victory came against Ohio, as they won by a score of 81-79.

As the underdog this season, Western Michigan has an ATS record of 8-5. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, the Broncos have gone 7-3 vs. the spread. On the road, Western Michigan is 4-3 ATS this year and they have gone 4-6 ATS over their last 10 road games. In their last 3 games as the underdog, the Broncos have an ATS mark of 3-0.

This season, the over/under record for Western Michigan games is 8-6 and today’s line of 145 is higher than the average over/under line in their games (141.6). So far, 10 of their games have finished with fewer points than today’s line. In their last three games, the over/under record is 3-0 and the average scoring total in those games is 168 points.

Western Michigan recently showcased a strong offensive performance, scoring 81 points against Ohio. This output exceeded their season average of 74.9 points per game. The top scorer for the Broncos was Seth Hubbard with 15 points, while B. Artis White also chipped in with 13 points.

So far, the Broncos’ defense is ranked 244th in the country at 76.2 points per contest. In today’s game vs. Akron, the Western Michigan defense will be looking to do a better job avoiding putting opponents on the line. In their last game, Western Michigan made 21 free-throws vs. the Broncos.

Will Akron Win at Home?

As a 12.5-point favorite, Akron has a record of 9-0 when favored this season. The Zips are also 5-1 at home and have won their last four games. On the year, Akron is 12-4, including a 4-0 mark in Mid-American Conference action.

With an average scoring margin of +11.2 points per game, the Zips have been dominant at home. Over their last 10 games at home, Akron has gone 9-1. In their most recent game, the Zips defeated Buffalo by a score of 76-59.

As the favorite this season, Akron is 5-4 vs. the spread. At home, the Zips are 4-2 ATS this year and have gone 5-3 ATS in their last 10 home games. Over their last three home games, Akron has an ATS mark of 2-1.

So far this season, the over/under record for Akron games is 7-7. In their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 and over their last five games, the OU record is 2-3. For the season, the average over/under line in their games is 140.8 and their games are averaging 141.5 points per game. Today’s over/under line is 145.

In their latest game, Akron offense put up 76 points against Buffalo. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 47.7% and made 5 threes. Enrique Freeman is currently the leading scorer for the team, entering today’s matchup with an average of 18.2. Meanwhile, Greg Tribble also brings a PPG average of 10.1 into the game.

Currently, the Zips’ defense holds the 53rd rank in the nation, allowing 65.6 points per game. The Akron defense is coming off a game in which they gave up a total of 59 points and allowed Buffalo to connect on 5 threes.