Western Michigan vs Akron Prediction 2/11/25 College Basketball Picks

The Western Michigan Broncos and the Akron Zips meet Tuesday in college basketball action from James A Rhodes Arena. Here’s a Western Michigan vs Akron prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Western Michigan vs Akron pick. We will examine: 

The Western Michigan Broncos’ recent form and player performance

The Akron Zips’ recent form and player performance 

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Western Michigan Broncos

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Akron Zips

Recent betting trends in games played between Western Michigan and Akron

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Western Michigan vs Akron game

Western Michigan Broncos Betting Preview

The Broncos were looking pretty rough in mid-January record-wise, but they’ve improved slightly since then. Western Michigan went just 3-4 in their first seven games, falling versus Coastal Carolina, Butler, SIU Edwardsville, and South Dakota in that time. A losing streak came next as the Broncos dropped games versus Dayton, St. Thomas MN, North Dakota State, Valparaiso, Michigan State, Toledo, Bowling Green, and Miami OH in succession. Since then it’s been a middling 4-4 run for Western Michigan. The wins have come over Kent State, Northern Illinois, Ball State, and Eastern Michigan. Otherwise, it’s been losses to Buffalo, Central Michigan, Ohio, and Georgia Southern in that time, giving the Broncos a 7-16 overall record through their first 23 games this year. 

In the Georgia Southern matchup on Saturday, the Broncos came out of the break with a 41-26 deficit. Western Michigan didn’t get any closer than that one, a 42-31 second half, and limped to a loss of 83-57. Both Chansey Willis (six assists; five rebounds) and JaVaughn Hannah (five rebounds) paced the team with 13 points apiece. March Strickland added 10 points with two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. 

Akron Zips Betting Preview

Over on the Zips’ side, they had a spotty run going in December but otherwise, it’s been a solid year for them. Akron beat Ohio Wesleyan, Lamar, Omaha, Alabama State, Northern Kentucky, and SUNY-Brockport in their first eight outings, then hit a 1-3 stretch. The lone win at that time was against Jackson State. Otherwise, it was losses to Milwaukee, Yale, and Princeton. Since then the Zips have hit a nice win streak, taking out Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Ohio, Buffalo, Miami OH, Northern Illinois, Kent State, Ball State, and South Alabama. The result so far has been an 18-5 overall record through 23 games for the Zips. 

Matched up against South Alabama on Saturday, the Zips were up by six points at the break. Akron kept it up in the second half on a 44-35 run and took the eventual victory 80-65. Leading the team in scoring was Tavari Johnson with 20 points, four assists, three steals, and two rebounds. Seth Wilson posted 14 points with two steals, and Bowen Hardman came off the bench for 12 points and one rebound in 20 minutes of work on the floor. 

Why the Akron Zips will win

• Akron has won each of its last 13 games against Conference opponents.
• Western Michigan has lost 15 of its last 18 night games following a home loss.

Western Michigan vs Akron Prediction 

I’ll stay with Akron. The Zips raced right past a decent South Alabama team in their last outing, posting 45.9 percent shooting from the field with a 36-31 rebounding edge. Akron did cough up 12 turnovers for 10 Jaguars points, though. Still, it was a nice continuation of the winning streak. Akron has now scored 80 or more points in 10 straight games. If they can hit that threshold again here, the Zips will be hard to contend with. 

As for Western Michigan, they’ve been below 70 points in three straight games (a 1-2 run) with fewer than 62 in two of those. I don’t see the Broncos keeping pace for long in a road matchup here. Akron should thrive if the Zips play to their capabilities, and it shouldn’t be much of a challenge overall.