Akron vs Ball State Pick – Basketball Predictions & Odds 2/28/23

The Ball State Cardinals and the Akron Zips meet Tuesday in college basketball action from James A. Rhodes Arena. Ball State is currently 20-9 overall. The Cardinals lost to Eastern Michigan in their last game. As for Akron, they’re 20-9 this year as well after a win over Western Michigan on Saturday. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

Ball State Cardinals 

Ball State managed a 15-7 run over their first 22 outings this year. The Cardinals are 5-2 since then with wins over Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Bowling Green, NIU and Kent State alongside losses to Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan. 

In the rematch versus Eastern Michigan on Saturday, the Cardinals went into the break with a 37-27 edge. Ball State was outscored 48-31 from there and lost 75-68, however. Demarius Jacobs put up 19 points with five assists in the defeat. 

Akron Zips 

Over on the Zips’ side, they managed to start the year on a 16-6 stretch. The Zips are 4-3 in their last seven with wins over Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Buffalo and Western Michigan. The losses came to Toledo, Ohio and Toledo again. 

Matched up against Western Michigan on Saturday, Akron managed a 35-25 advantage by halftime. The Zips posted a 45-39 run from there and won pretty easily 81-64. Xavier Castaneda was tops on 23 points with five assists. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll probably stick with Akron. You could make a case either way here, though; it should be a pretty good matchup. Akron is 3-1 in their last four games and scoring well these days. The Zips have hit 74 or more points in five of their last six games. As for Ball State, they managed a 70-63 victory back on January 6 the last time these teams met up at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals are a sketchy 1-2 in their last three but they’ve still been putting up points. This rematch should be a fairly high-scoring affair and I like Akron to eke out a cover for a bit of revenge.