Akron Zips vs Ohio Bobcats Picks and Predictions for Friday January 23 2026
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The Akron Zips travel to face the Ohio Bobcats at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio, on Friday, January 23, 2026, with tip-off scheduled for 8:00 PM. This Mid-American Conference matchup will be televised on ESPNU. At the time of this writing, the moneyline odds were not released. The total is set at 168.5 points with the Over at -115 and the Under at -105, while the spread favors Akron -9.5 (-102) with Ohio +9.5 (-118). Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily NCAA betting insights.
Akron Rolling With Confidence On The Road
Akron enters this matchup with a strong 15-4 overall record and has been playing its best basketball over the last few weeks. Over their last five games, the Zips have recently won over Buffalo, Western Michigan, Ball State, Bowling Green, and Central Michigan, putting together an impressive winning streak with several double-digit victories.
From a statistical standpoint, Akron boasts one of the most explosive offenses in the conference, averaging 93.0 points per game while allowing 75.8 points. The Zips are shooting an efficient 52% from the field and averaging 38.0 rebounds per game, consistently overwhelming opponents with pace and scoring balance.
What really separates Akron is how well the offense flows. They average 20.5 assists per game and pair that with aggressive defense that generates 8.4 steals per contest, creating easy scoring chances in transition.
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Ohio Looking To Keep Pace At Home
Ohio comes into this game with an 11-9 overall record and will try to protect its home floor against one of the conference’s hottest teams. In their last five games, the Bobcats have recently won over Northern Illinois, Buffalo, and Massachusetts, while also recently losing to Ball State and Toledo, showing some inconsistency against top competition.
Offensively, Ohio is averaging 78.2 points per game while allowing 77.2 points on the defensive end. They are shooting 48% from the field and averaging 34.1 rebounds per game, relying on efficiency rather than tempo to stay competitive.
Defensively, the Bobcats can be disruptive at times, averaging 3.3 blocks and 6.6 steals per game. However, their slower pace and lower assist numbers can make it difficult to keep up in high-scoring matchups.
Akron Zips vs Ohio Bobcats Pick
Akron Zips vs Ohio Bobcats Pick
- Pick: Akron Zips -9.5 (-102)
Akron has been dominating conference opponents with its fast pace, elite shooting efficiency, and depth scoring. Against an Ohio team that has struggled defensively against high-powered offenses, the Zips are in a strong position to control this game and pull away late.
Akron Zips vs Ohio Bobcats Total Pick
- Pick: Over 168.5
I’m taking the Over in this matchup because Akron pushes the tempo and scores in bunches, and Ohio has shown it can contribute offensively at home. With Akron averaging over 90 points per game, this total sets up well for a fast-paced, high-scoring contest.
Final Score Prediction: Akron 92, Ohio 81
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