Akron Zips vs Saint Mary’s Gaels Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Akron vs Saint Mary's NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Moraga.

Akron vs Saint Mary's Prediction

The Zips and Gaels are set to face off at 10:00 ET on ESPN+. The Gaels will host the game at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, CA. The odds for this non-conference game currently have Saint Mary's as the -14.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 137.5 points.

Akron vs. Saint Mary's Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Akron Zips at Saint Mary's Gaels
Where: Moraga at University Credit Union Pavilion
Date: Tuesday, November 12th
Betting Odds STMRY -14.5, AKRON +684 | STMRY -1157 O/U 137.5

Zips Preview: Can the Zips Pull the Upset on the Road?

Akron Zips Recent Game/Games

In their season opener, the Zips fell 80-75 on the road against Arkansas State on Monday. Akron entered the game as +5.5 point underdogs and managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 155, surpassing the O/U line of 149.5.

After trailing 40-30 at halftime, Akron made a strong push in the 2nd half, outscoring the Red Wolves 42-32. Despite the comeback effort, they couldn’t close the gap entirely.

Zips Offense Breakdown

Akron's offense managed 75 points in their last game, despite shooting just 37.8% from the field and 31.2% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 44.6%, and they hit 9 of 13 free throws, good for 69.2%.

Joseph Pinion was a standout, hitting 4 of 5 threes and finishing with 16 points in 22 minutes. Sharron Young also impressed, shooting 75% overall and 60% from deep, contributing 15 points in 22 minutes.

Zips Team Defense

Akron's defense gave up 80 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 46% from the field. They allowed 34 made field goals on 73 attempts.

Inside the arc, the Zips' defense struggled, giving up 25 two-pointers on 43 attempts, a 58% shooting rate. From three-point range, they allowed 9 made threes on 30 attempts, with the opposing team shooting 30%. Akron also sent the other team to the free-throw line 6 times, where they made 3 free throws.

Gaels Preview: Will Saint Mary's Make it Happen at Home?

Saint Mary's Gaels Recent Game/Games

Saint Mary's opened their season with an 86-74 win over Chattanooga on Thursday, November 7th. The Gaels were -16.5 point favorites at home but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points hit 160, surpassing the O/U line of 137.5.

Saint Mary's led 39-29 at halftime, but the 2nd half saw a more competitive game, with the Gaels scoring 47 points and allowing 45.

Gaels Offense Breakdown

Saint Mary's put up 86 points in their latest game, shooting 51.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 59.6%. They connected on 63.3% of their two-point attempts, while hitting 36.4% from beyond the arc, making 8 threes in the game. At the free-throw line, the Gaels shot 75%, converting 24 of 32 attempts.

Augustas Marciulionis led the way with 27 points and 7 assists, shooting 56.2% overall and 50% from three. Paulius Murauskas added 23 points and 11 rebounds, hitting 63.6% of his shots. Makai Richards contributed 19 points in just 18 minutes, shooting 66.7% from the field.

Gaels Team Defense

Saint Mary's Gaels struggled defensively, giving up 74 points on 51% shooting from the field. They allowed their opponents to hit 63% of their two-point attempts, going 19/30.

From beyond the arc, their opponents shot 36%, making 8 of 22 three-point attempts. The Gaels also sent them to the line 32 times, where they converted 24 free throws at a 75% rate.

Zips vs Gaels Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Through their last three road games, Akron has an ATS record of just 1-2. However, their overall record was 0-3 while averaging 73 points per game.
In their last three home games, Saint Mary's has averaged 81 points per game while allowing 50. The team's record in this stretch was 3-0 while going 3-0 vs. the spread.
In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Zips have a straight up record of 0-5 and an ATS mark of 1-4.
Through their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Gaels have a good straight up record, but their ATS mark is just 0-3.