MAC Title Game: Akron vs Miami (Ohio) Odds, Picks & Predictions

• Akron and Miami (Ohio) play in the Mid-American Championship Game on Saturday Night
• The Zips are eyeing their third NCAA Tournament appearance under John Groce
• See below for my Akron vs Miami (Ohio) picks, predictions, and the latest odds

The Mid-American Conference Tournament ends on Saturday, March 15. The 2-seed Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (25-8, 14-4 MAC, 19-13-1 ATS) and the 1-seed Akron Zips (27-6, 17-1 MAC, 18-15 ATS) face off for a chance to reach the NCAA Tournament. Tipoff for this game is at 7:40 pm ET at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

Will John Groce and Akron zip into the NCAA Tournament? Read below for the latest MAC Title game odds and my Akron vs Miami predictions.

Akron vs Miami (Ohio) Odds

Saturday’s college basketball odds list Akron as a 5.5-point favorite on a neutral site in Cleveland. The Zips opened as 6-point favorites over RedHawks before the line shifted down half a point. The O/U for this championship game is currently at 156.5.

Odds as of March 15 at FanDuel Sportsbook. Claim the best college basketball bonus codes with SBD’s March Madness betting promos.

Akron vs Miami (Ohio) Prediction for MAC Championship

1-seeds have not done so well in the Mid-American Championship, but I am predicting that Akron will get the job done on Saturday. In the conference tournament as a whole, the Zips are seeking back-to-back conference championships (not done since Buffalo in 2019. A 1-seed has not won the tournament since then either.

Akron has made two March Madness appearances since 2022 when they won the MAC Tournament. This has been their best season since ever in the MAC where they only lost once in the conference. These tournament games are played in Cleveland on a neutral site. Since 2019, the following seeds have won the tournament. Ohio was a 5-seed in 2021, Akron was a 4-seed in 2022 and 2-seed in 2024, and Kent State was a 2-seed in 2023.

Akron vs Miami (Ohio) KenPom Rankings

The Zips play at a frenetic pace and are 14th in the entire country in adjusted tempo. They average almost 85 points a game and allow 74.5 per contest. Their offensive rebounding ability is a big asset and have five players who average 4.6 rebounds game or more. They get second-chance opportunities and pay to play. They are willing to trade opportunities to get opportunities. Akron hoists 29.9 three-point shots per game and 64.8 field goals per game. Both rank inside the Top 10 in college basketball (6th and 7th).

Miami (Ohio) has been the second-best team in the MAC most of this season. The RedHawks won 25 games for the first time ever and this is their first championship game appearance since that season. Miami (Ohio) plays at an above average pace yet has a middling defense as they allow 72.6 points per game. They average almost 81 points per contest and will need their offense to step up on Saturday if they want to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007.

Akron vs Miami (Ohio) Picks

I am picking Akron to go back-to-back in the MAC Tournament on Saturday. Miami (Ohio) helped Akron by defeating Kent State in the semifinals. Akron won the only meeting in a 102-75 demolition. Kent State played Akron much closer in Akron and may have had a better chance on a neutral court.

The RedHawks do want revenge after the humiliating loss earlier in the season, and I expect that they will try to keep pace. However, Akron’s depth is vital. No player averages more than 14 points per game and they want the repeat. This one could get ugly if Miami (Ohio) can not knock down shots early. Now, it may get even uglier if Akron gets out in transition early and often. Take Akron to cover the spread.

Mid-American Championship Pick: Akron -5.5 (-110)

The MAC Title Game is set to take place on Saturday, December 18th, with Akron facing off against Miami (Ohio) in what promises to be an exciting matchup. Both teams have had strong seasons and will be looking to come out on top in this highly anticipated game.

As of now, the odds for the game are fairly even, with Miami (Ohio) being slight favorites at -3.5. This means that the oddsmakers believe Miami (Ohio) has a slight edge in this matchup, but anything can happen in a championship game.

When it comes to picks and predictions for this game, it’s important to consider a few key factors. First and foremost, both teams have strong offenses that are capable of putting up points in a hurry. Akron has been led by quarterback Zach Gibson, who has thrown for over 2,500 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Miami (Ohio) has also been impressive on offense, with quarterback Brett Gabbert leading the way with over 2,300 passing yards and 17 touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, both teams have been solid but not spectacular. Akron has given up an average of 27 points per game, while Miami (Ohio) has allowed just under 24 points per game. This could be a key factor in determining the outcome of the game, as whichever team is able to make more stops on defense could come out on top.

In terms of predictions, it’s tough to say which team will come out victorious in this game. Both teams have shown that they are capable of playing at a high level, and it could come down to which team is able to execute better on both sides of the ball.

Ultimately, this MAC Title Game is shaping up to be a close and competitive matchup between two evenly matched teams. Fans can expect an exciting game with plenty of scoring and big plays on both sides of the ball. Be sure to tune in on Saturday to see who will come out on top and claim the MAC Championship title.