Akron visits Kent State on Friday, February 27, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (M.A.C. Center) in Kent, Ohio.
Akron (14-1 MAC) and Kent State (12-3 MAC) are both in the MAC title mix with four regular-season games left, and this is the second meeting after Akron won 69-52 at home on January 30, 2026.
Odds
Odds as of 11:10 AM ET on February 27, 2026 (MyBookie).
| Market | Akron | Kent State |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -3.5 (-115) | +3.5 (-105) |
| Moneyline | -200 | +162 |
| Total | Over 165.5 (-115) | Under 165.5 (-105) |
Team Snapshot
This table summarizes baseline form, market performance, and tempo.
| Team | Record | Last 10 | ATS | Off Eff | Def Eff | Tempo | Key Injury Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 23-5 | 9-1 | 13-13 | 1.21 pts/poss | 1.03 pts/poss allowed | 72.3 poss/game | No injuries reported |
| Kent State | 21-7 | 7-3 | 10-16 | 1.13 pts/poss | 1.06 pts/poss allowed | 74.5 poss/game | No injuries reported |
This table adds the matchup rates that most directly connect to spread and total outcomes.
| Stat Category | Akron | Kent State |
|---|---|---|
| O/U Record | 14-12 | 16-10 |
| Points Per Game | 89.8 | 85.6 |
| Scoring Margin | +14.9 | +5.9 |
| 3PT% | 38.02% | 34.46% |
| Opponent 3PT% | 34.39% | 34.88% |
| 3s Made Per Game | 10.8 | 9.6 |
| Turnover % (Offense) | 13.44% | 16.24% |
| Opponent Turnover % Forced (Defense) | 16.00% | 14.06% |
| Rebounding Margin (Per Game) | +4.4 | +6.3 |
| Offensive Rebound % | 33.88% | 36.31% |
| Free Throw Rate (FTA/FGA) | 27.51% | 44.06% |
Recent Form & Statistical Edge
Akron: elite shot-making plus ball security
Akron comes in 23-5 overall, riding a strong 9-1 run over its last 10 games. Over that last-10 sample, Akron has been producing 89.0 points per game while holding opponents to 72.3, which is consistent with its season-long +14.9 scoring margin.
The Zips’ offensive profile travels because it is not built on one fragile input. Akron’s offense is efficient (1.21 points per possession) with top-tier shooting indicators: 38.02% from three and a 58.45% effective field goal rate. That matters against a Kent State defense allowing 1.06 points per possession, which has struggled to hold serve in the halfcourt when opponents can space the floor.
Possession quality is also a separator here. Akron’s 13.44% turnover rate is the kind of number that reduces “empty” trips in a road environment, and its defense forces turnovers at a 16.00% clip. Kent State’s offense has been more turnover-prone (16.24%), so Akron’s ability to win the possession battle is a real path to covering a short road number even if Kent State has the rebounding edge.
From a schedule and rest perspective, Akron is on normal rest after playing on Tuesday, February 24. The travel is minimal (a short in-state trip), so fatigue is unlikely to be a meaningful variable.
Kent State: tempo, free throws, and second-chance points
Kent State is 21-7 overall and has won four straight, going 7-3 over its last 10 games. The Golden Flashes are also 13-2 at home, and the market is clearly respecting that home-floor performance by keeping the spread inside two possessions despite Akron’s stronger efficiency profile.
Kent State’s offense is good rather than elite on a per-possession basis (1.13 points per possession), but it creates points in ways that can keep underdogs live. The Flashes play fast (74.5 possessions per game), crash the glass (36.31% offensive rebound rate), and generate free throws at a very high rate (44.06% FTA/FGA). That free-throw pressure is especially relevant in a projected fast game, because whistles can inflate scoring and allow a trailing team to set its defense.
The concern is that Kent State’s defensive efficiency (1.06 points per possession allowed) has not been reliable, and its perimeter defense has been middling by percentage (34.88% opponent 3PT). Akron’s 38.02% three-point shooting is a difficult matchup if Kent State is forced to help inside to clean up the defensive glass or contain dribble penetration.
Kent State is also carrying a 10-16 ATS record, which fits the idea that its win profile has not always matched market expectations, particularly when stepping up in opponent quality.
Matchup Keys
- Turnovers and conversion: Akron’s 13.44% offensive turnover rate vs Kent State’s 16.24% is a key gap in a matchup where both teams want to play quickly. If Akron keeps Kent State out of transition by limiting live-ball turnovers, Kent’s pace edge matters less.
- 3-point math: Akron (38.02% from three, 10.8 made threes per game) has the cleaner spacing profile. Kent State allowing 34.88% from three can be punished if help defense tilts toward Gillespie-led rebounding.
- Second chances: Kent State’s offensive rebounding (36.31% OR%) and +6.3 rebounding margin are the most direct counters to Akron’s more efficient shot quality. If Kent wins this area decisively, it can offset turnover issues.
- Free throws: Kent State’s 44.06% FTA/FGA is a major driver of scoring variance. If officials allow physicality, Kent’s easiest points can dry up and the offensive burden shifts back to halfcourt execution.
- Game speed: Both teams are comfortable above 70 possessions. Kent State’s faster tempo (74.5) helps its underdog case, but it also increases the number of possessions where Akron’s efficiency and depth can show.
Best Bet
Pick: Akron -3.5 (-115)
Akron’s offensive efficiency (1.21 points per possession) paired with elite three-point shooting (38.02%) sets up well against a Kent State defense allowing 1.06 points per possession and a similar opponent 3PT% profile. The possession edge also favors Akron: the Zips protect the ball (13.44% turnover rate) while Kent State’s offense has been looser (16.24%), and that gap is magnified in a higher-tempo game with more total trips.
Kent State’s best answers are real, especially offensive rebounding and a high free-throw rate, but those strengths tend to be higher-variance from game to game than Akron’s shot-making and ball security. With both teams on normal rest after Tuesday, the handicap leans toward the team that is more efficient on a per-possession basis rather than the team that needs extra possessions to get there.
Projected Score
Akron 86, Kent State 81
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