Kent State Golden Flashes at Akron Zips Betting Odds

Opening Line: Kent State +3 / Akron -3 O/U 132.5

Time: 8 PM EST Friday March 5, 2010 on ESPN2

Well tonight's Mid American Conference (MAC) between Kent State and Akron is for all the marbles, as the winner will win the conference and also get an automatic invite to the NCAA tournament. Even though the loser of this game will have 22 wins it is a long shot that they will get a Big Dance invite since the MAC is not a major conference.

This season Akron is 13-3 at home and 13-12-2 ATS and Kent State is 8-5 on the road and 13-12-1 ATS.

In their last games both teams played and won on Saturday, as Akron beat Bowling Green 74-68 and Kent State beat Miami of Ohio 66-58.

If Kent State loses they may still have a sliver of hope to get an at large berth, as they have an RPI of 49, which is higher than 5 of the bubble teams in the Big East, which is considered the toughest conference this season.

While these teams are similar where they differ is their style of play, as Kent State is led by their backcourt and Akron is led by their frontcourt.

Kent State has 3 guards that are averaging in double figures, but they do have a decent frontcourt with leading scorer F Justin Greene (14.1 ppg 6.8 rpg) and F Anthony Simpson (8.3 ppg 5.7 rpg).

Akron has a great frontcourt with 3 forwards averaging in double figures led by Brett McKnight (10.5 ppg). The Zips are deeper than the Flashers are, as McKnight is the only player averaging in double figures and they share the wealth when it comes to scoring points.

The team that can play to their strength will win this game. If Akron can score inside and rebound well they will win and if Kent State can shoot the rock from outside and Justin Greene can rebound well they will win.

In the first match up between these 2 teams at Kent State on January 23rd the Golden Flashes crushed the Zips 87-70. Akron has to shoot the 3-point bomb better than they did in that game (4/17) and play better defense, as Kent State shot a FG% of 51.7%.

Akron must play solid perimeter defense on the scoring guards of Kent State and maybe more importantly contain Justin Greene, who went for 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Golden Flashes in their win over Akron earlier this season.

Kent State is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games, 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games, and has an Under record of 6-2 in their last 8 road games.

Akron is 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 home games, 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5, and has an Over record of 5-1 in their last 6 games as a favorite.

Our Selection : Huge game for both teams, winner will win the conference and also get an automatic invite to the NCAA tournament. Tough call against the number as both teams will be up for this one so we like a play on the total instead. Last time these 2 teams played at Kent State on January 23rd the Golden Flashes crushed the Zips 87-70. The Zips didn't shoot well from 3-point land only going 4 for 17 but still managed to score 70 points. Kent State score 87 points and were 51% from the field.We are really surpised at the posted number, as we see this game to be a high scoring affair with so much on the line. Take Over 133 points.