Who’s Playing
Akron @ Northern Illinois
Current Records: Akron 15-6; Northern Illinois 6-14
What to Know
After two games on the road, the Northern Illinois Huskies are heading back home. The Huskies and the Akron Zips will face off in a Mid-American battle at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday at Convocation Center. The teams split their matchups last year, with NIU winning the first 67-65 at home and Akron taking the second 81-76.
NIU has to be hurting after a devastating 87-65 defeat at the hands of the Bowling Green Falcons this past Saturday.
Meanwhile, Akron didn’t have too much trouble with the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks on the road on Sunday as they won 71-59.
NIU is expected to lose this next one by 8. Those playing the odds have seen things go back and forth with the Huskies, who are 10-9 against the spread.
NIU is now 6-14 while the Zips sit at 15-6. A pair of stats to keep an eye on: NIU is 18th worst in college basketball in points per game, with only 63.5 on average. Akron’s defense has more to brag about, as they they come into the matchup boasting the 29th fewest points allowed per game in college basketball at 62.7. So the cards are definitely stacked in their favor.
How To Watch
- When: Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET
- Where: Convocation Center — DeKalb, Illinois
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Ticket Cost: $24.84
Odds
The Zips are a big 8-point favorite against the Huskies, according to the latest college basketball odds.
The oddsmakers were right in line with the betting community on this one, as the game opened as an 8-point spread, and stayed right there.
Over/Under: -109
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Series History
Akron have won six out of their last nine games against Northern Illinois.
- Feb 16, 2021 – Akron 81 vs. Northern Illinois 76
- Jan 12, 2021 – Northern Illinois 67 vs. Akron 65
- Jan 14, 2020 – Akron 72 vs. Northern Illinois 49
- Jan 26, 2019 – Akron 67 vs. Northern Illinois 65
- Jan 12, 2019 – Northern Illinois 73 vs. Akron 56
- Jan 20, 2018 – Akron 82 vs. Northern Illinois 67
- Jan 31, 2017 – Akron 76 vs. Northern Illinois 73
- Feb 13, 2016 – Northern Illinois 80 vs. Akron 79
- Jan 26, 2016 – Akron 76 vs. Northern Illinois 66