Akron Zips vs Northern Illinois Huskies Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Akron vs Northern Illinois NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Dekalb.

Akron vs Northern Illinois Prediction

Planning on watching today's Zips and Huskies game? Catch the action at NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, IL, as the Huskies hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. Akron come into this Mid-American conference matchup as the -15.5 favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 153.5 points.

Akron vs. Northern Illinois Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Akron Zips at Northern Illinois Huskies
Where: Dekalb at NIU Convocation Center
Date: Tuesday, January 28th
Betting Odds AKRON -15.5, AKRON -1860 | NILL +898 O/U 153.5

Zips Preview: Do the Zips Have What it Takes in Dekalb?

Akron Zips Recent Game/Games

Akron improved to 12-5 on the season with a dominant 102-75 win over Miami (OH) on Saturday. The Zips, who were favored by 8 points, covered the spread with ease. The total points for the game reached 177, surpassing the over/under line of 156.5.

Akron took control early, leading 52-28 at halftime. While they allowed 47 points in the 2nd half, they matched that with 50 points of their own to seal the win.

Zips Offense Breakdown

Akron's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 102 points while shooting 55.4% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 67.7%, thanks to hitting 15 threes at a 44.1% clip and shooting 67.7% on two-point attempts.

The Zips also connected on 78.9% of their free throws and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds. They dished out 21 assists, with Tavari Johnson leading the way with 6. Peter Suder was the team's top scorer with 18 points, while Nate Johnson and Seth Wilson each added 14, with Wilson hitting 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.

Zips Team Defense

Akron's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 75 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 55% from the field. The Zips had a tough time defending inside, with their opponent hitting 67% of their two-point attempts, going 21/31.

From beyond the arc, Akron's opponent shot 44%, making 15 of 34 three-point attempts. The Zips also sent them to the free-throw line 19 times, where they converted 15 free throws for 78%. Akron allowed 12 offensive rebounds in the game.

Huskies Preview: Will the Huskies Win at Home?

Northern Illinois Huskies Recent Game/Games

Northern Illinois picked up a 76-66 home win over Ball State on Saturday, improving their record to 2-14. The Huskies were +6.5 point underdogs going into the game, but not only pulled off the upset, they also covered the spread.

The Huskies led 40-29 at halftime and scored 36 points in the 2nd half while allowing 37. The total points for the game were 142, falling short of the 148 O/U line.

Huskies Offense Breakdown

Northern Illinois put up 76 points in their last game, shooting 43.6% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 54.5%, thanks in large part to hitting 48.1% from three-point range, connecting on 13 of 27 attempts. They struggled inside, shooting just 39.3% on two-point attempts.

At the free-throw line, the Huskies hit 57.7%, making 15 of 26 attempts. Nasir Muhammad led the way with 19 points, hitting 5 of 6 threes, while Quaran McPherson and James Dent Jr. both added 18 points and 10 rebounds. Ethan Brittain-Watts also chipped in 16 points, hitting 4 of 6 from beyond the arc.

Huskies Team Defense

Despite Northern Illinois giving up 66 points, they held their opponent to 43% shooting from the field. The Huskies were solid inside, limiting their opposition to 39% on two-point attempts, with just 11 makes on 28 tries.

However, Northern Illinois struggled to contain the three-point line, allowing 13 threes on 27 attempts, a 48% clip. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 26 times, where they converted 15 for 57%.

Zips vs Huskies Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their last three road contests, Akron has been good against the spread posting a mark of 2-1. Their overall mark in these games was 3-0, while averaging 88 points per game.
Through their last five home contests, the Huskies offense has averaged 65 points per game while allowing an average of 87. Northern Illinois posted an overall record of 0-5 while going 2-3 ATS.
As the betting underdog, the Huskies have an ATS mark of just 4-6 in their last ten games. Northern Illinois posted a straight up mark of 1-9 in these matchups.
In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Zips have a strong straight up record of 5-0. In addition, their ATS record was 4-1 in these scenarios.