Ball State vs Akron Picks and Prediction – 2/5/2025

On Tuesday, the Ball State Cardinals (10-11) face off against the Akron Zips (16-5) at James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio. Get ready for the college basketball season with our college basketball picks.

Akron comes into this matchup on a nine-game winning streak. In a dominant 85-71 victory over Kent State, Nate Johnson shined for the Akron Zips by putting up 20 points. Throughout this season, Johnson has been a crucial offensive player for Akron, topping the team's scoring chart with an average of 13.7 points per game. Complimenting him is Tavari Johnson, who ranks as the team's second-highest scorer with an average of 12.7 points each game. Additionally, James Okonkwo stands out in the rebounding department, leading the Zips with an impressive average of 7.9 rebounds per game. Tavari Johnson also showcases his playmaking abilities by averaging 4.2 assists per game, the most on the team. Over their last five matchups, Akron has managed to score an average of 88.8 points, highlighting their offensive prowess. As they prepare to host Ball State, the Zips aim to maintain their momentum and extend their winning streak to ten games, hoping to continue their unbeaten run in conference play. Overall, Akron is averaging 84 points per game this season, underscoring their offensive strength.

Ball State enters this game on a one-game winning streak, but has dropped three of their last five games. In their recent 89-76 victory over Buffalo, Payton Sparks delivered an impressive performance by scoring 27 points for the Cardinals. This season, the team’s standout scorer is Jermahri Hill, who tops Ball State's scoring chart with an average of 16.3 points per game. Following closely behind, Payton Sparks contributes significantly as the second-leading scorer, averaging 12.8 points throughout the season. Sparks also dominates the rebounding efforts for Ball State, pulling down an average of 8.1 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Jermahri Hill excels in playmaking, leading the team with an average of 3.2 assists each game. Defensively, however, Ball State has faced challenges, allowing an average of 79.8 points over their last five matchups. Despite these issues, the Cardinals aim to capitalize on their current winning streak to maintain momentum and steer clear of a potential sixth conference loss this year. On the offensive side, Ball State is proficient, with the team averaging 76.1 points per game.

Akron's offense has been exceptionally strong this season, consistently averaging over 90 points in each home game. They are determined to maintain their perfect home record and prevent any surprises when Ball State comes to visit. On the other hand, the Cardinals have struggled away from home, losing six of their nine road games, but they hope to use this as motivation to turn things around in this upcoming contest. Final Score Prediction, Akron Zips win but fail to cover, 85-72.