NCAA basketball odds: Kent State, Akron fight for MAC supremacy

There’s plenty on the line when Kent State and Akron play their final game of the regular season Friday night. These teams are tied for the MAC lead, and sportsbook fans should be in for a treat when they hit the floor. BroburySports.com has Kent State as a 3 point favorite.

Kent State vs. Akron – 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Kent State (22-8, 13-12-1 ATS) is closing out the season with an impressive run, winning 12 of its last 13 games, including four straight. The most recent win came Saturday, a 66-58 victory over Miami (Ohio). Despite the streak, the Golden Flashes haven’t been nearly as effective against the spread, going 1-3-1 in their past five games. Kent State has been a bit of a road warrior, though, covering six of its last eight games away from home.

Justin Greene leads the Kent State offense, which averages 70.4 points per game. The sophomore forward ranks first on his team in points (14.1 PPG) and rebounds (6.8 RPG), and he’s finishing his season with a very strong push; Greene is averaging 21.7 points and 8.7 rebounds over his last three games. He’s complimented by three guards averaging double figures in points—Chris Singletary, Rodriguez Sherman and Tyree Evans. Singletary has cracked double figures in seven consecutive games. On defense, Kent State allows 64.1 points per game.

Akron (22-8, 13-12-2 ATS) has won back-to-back games after knocking off Bowling Green 74-68; that victory gives the team seven wins in its past eight games. The Zips have been kind to their fans and sportsbook bettors lately, covering four of their past six games against the spread. Strangely, Akron has struggled on college basketball odds at home; the team is 1-3-1 in its past five games at the James A. Rhodes Arena.

Offensively, Akron trails Kent State by a hair, knocking out 70.2 points per game. Scoring is a team effort at Akron, as seven different players are averaging at least seven points per game—yet only one player, Brett McKnight—is averaging double digits (10.5 PPG). McKnight has been very steady, scoring at least 11 points a night in seven of his last eight games. At the other end of the floor, Akron has a very slim edge over Kent State (63.8 points allowed per game).

Kent State and Akron met in late January, with the Golden Flashes coming away with an 87-70 victory. Greene dominated for Kent State, piling up 23 points and 13 rebounds. Kent State has dominated the series in recent years, winning and covering five of the past six match ups. The total—set at 133 ½ at Sportsbook.com — has gone over in two straight games between these teams.