Western Michigan Broncos vs. Akron Zips Pick & Predictions for Jan 16th

Western Michigan Broncos (7-9 SU, 8-6 ATS) vs. Akron Zips (12-4 SU, 8-6 ATS)

When: Tuesday, January 16th, 7:00 PM (ET)

Where: James A. Rhodes Arena, OH, Akron

TV: ESPN+

Point Spread: WMICH +12.5/AKRON -12.5

Total: 145

Money Line: Western Michigan Broncos +571/-907

Notable Injuries

Broncos

Zips

Recent Form

Western Michigan has been the underdog in 13 of their 16 games this season, and they have gone 5-8 in those games. They are coming off an 81-79 win over Ohio, which improved their record to 7-9 on the season.

So far, the Broncos are 3-0 in Mid-American Conference games compared to a 4-9 record in non-conference games. On the road, they have gone 2-5 this season, and their average scoring margin is -8.9 points per game.

This season, the over/under record for Western Michigan 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 less points than today’s line. However, in their last three games, the average scoring total is 168 points.

As the underdog this season, Western Michigan has an ATS record of 8-5, including a perfect 3-0 mark in their last three games as the underdog. On the road, the Broncos have gone 4-3 vs. the spread this year and are 2-1 in their last three road games ATS. For the season, Western Michigan has an overall ATS mark of 8-6.

At home this season, Akron has gone 5-1, and they have won their last four games. For the year, they have gone 12-4, and they are a perfect 9-0 when favored.

Over their last ten games at home, the Zips are 9-1, and their average scoring margin at home this season is +11.2. So far, they have gone 4-0 in Mid-American Conference games.

So far this season, the over/under record for Akron’s games is 7-7, and the average scoring total in their games is 141.5 points. Today’s over/under line of 145 is higher than the average OU line in their games this year (140.8). In their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1, and the average scoring total is 146 points.

As the favorite, Akron has gone 5-4 vs. the spread this season. Their home ATS mark is 4-2, and they are 2-1 ATS in their last three home games. Overall, the Zips are 8-6 vs. the spread this year.

Analysis

Western Michigan is coming off a good offensive performance, putting up 81 points vs. Ohio. This figure is more than their season average of 74.9 points per game. The top scorer for the Broncos was Seth Hubbard, who scored 15 points, while B. Artis White also chipped in with 13 points.

At present, the Broncos’ defense is nationally ranked 244th, allowing 76.2 points per game. In their previous game vs. Ohio, the Bobcats finished with a field goal percentage of 47% and a total of 79 points vs. Western Michigan.

The Akron offense is coming off a game where they scored 76 points against Buffalo. They posted a field goal percentage of 47.7% and connected on 5 threes. Leading Akron in scoring vs. Buffalo was Enrique Freeman with his 21 points. Greg Tribble also added 18 points for the Zips.

At this time, the Zips’ defense is positioned 53rd in the country, permitting 65.6 points per game. Against Buffalo in their most recent game, the Akron defense gave up a total of 59 points while allowing Buffalo to hit 47% of their shots.

Betting Trends

• Across their ten previous road games, Western Michigan has an ATS mark of 4-6. Their straight-up record in these matchups was 2-8 while averaging 66 points per game.
• When looking at their past three matchups at home, Akron has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 71 per game. The team went 2-1 overall in these games.
• As the betting underdog, the Broncos have an ATS record of 3-2 in their last five games. In these matchups their, straight up record was 3-2.
• Through their last three games as the favorite, the Zips have an ATS record of 2-1 and a straight-up mark of 3-0.

Crew’s Pick To Cover The Spread

The Zips, 4-0 in MAC play with dominant home wins, justifiably have a -14 line. Yet, Western Michigan, also 4-0 in the MAC, has shown road grit, winning at Miami(OH) and Buffalo. Their offensive efficiency, marked by a 45.6 FG% and 35.4 3-PT%, along with strong rebounding, counters their defensive shortcomings. While they’ve allowed 71+ points in recent games (L9), the 14-point spread provides a cushion. WMU’s offense should keep them in the game, making them a solid pick to cover +14. I also like the total in this game. Check it out in our free picks. page.