The Akron Zips will play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. This game will take place at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. The game is set for Friday, March 20, 2026, at 12:40 PM ET and will be broadcast on truT.
Akron enters the tournament with a strong regular season record of 29-5. They have been performing well in the Mid-American Conference with a 20-1 record. Recently, the Zips secured wins against Toledo, Kent State, and Buffalo.
Texas Tech holds an overall record of 22-10 and ranks #20 in the AP Poll. They have faced some challenges in the Big 12 Conference, finishing with a 12-7 record. In their recent games, the Red Raiders lost to Iowa State, BYU, and TCU.
Texas Tech Preview
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are ranked #20 in the AP rankings. They play in the Big 12 Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they had a strong run. They won against UNCW, Drake, and Arkansas before losing to Florida in the Elite Eight.
In the 2026 regular season, the Red Raiders had a record of 22-10. Their conference record was 12-7. They have been strong on offense, scoring an average of 80.4 points per game. They are also good at making three-point shots, with 11.5 made per game.
Recent games have been challenging for the Red Raiders. They lost to Iowa State, BYU, and TCU. In the game against Iowa State, they scored 53 points. Jaylen Petty, LeJuan Watts, and Christian Anderson were top performers in that game.
Christian Anderson is a key player for the team. He averages 18.9 points per game and has a field goal percentage of 48.0%. Donovan Atwell and JT Toppin also contribute significantly. Toppin leads in rebounds, averaging 10.8 per game.
Akron Preview
The Akron Zips play in the Mid-American Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they reached the East Region’s first round. They lost to Arizona with a score of 93-65. This year, the Zips had a strong regular season with an overall record of 29-5 and a conference record of 20-1.
In recent games, the Zips have been successful. They won against the Toledo Rockets with a score of 79-76. Amani Lyles scored 15 points and had 16 rebounds in this game. Evan Mahaffey also contributed with 8 points and 6 rebounds.
The Zips also won against Kent State Golden Flashes, 75-68. Tavari Johnson led with 18 points and 4 rebounds. Evan Mahaffey scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. In another game, they defeated the Buffalo Bulls, 73-70. Tavari Johnson scored 25 points, and Amani Lyles had 16 rebounds.
During the 2026 regular season, the Zips averaged 88.4 points per game. Their field goal percentage was 50.3%. They made 10.9 three-pointers per game. On defense, they averaged 7.5 steals per game. The Zips’ betting trends show they won 9 of their last 10 games straight up.
Statistical Breakdown for Texas Tech vs Akron
The game between Texas Tech and Akron will be influenced by key stats. Texas Tech’s strong three-point shooting and Akron’s high scoring average are important. Texas Tech makes 11.5 three-pointers per game, while Akron scores 88.4 points per game. Akron’s field goal percentage is also high at 50.3%. Texas Tech’s defense will need to step up against Akron’s offense. Both teams have players who can make a big impact.
- Texas Tech Points Per Game: 80.4
- Texas Tech 3PT Made Per Game: 11.5
- Texas Tech 3PT Percentage: 39.3%
- Akron Points Per Game: 88.4
- Akron Field Goal Percentage: 50.3%
- Akron 3PT Made Per Game: 10.9
- Akron Steals Per Game: 7.5
Betting Insights
As the Akron Zips prepare to play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, bettors have several trends to consider. Akron has shown strength straight up, especially as favorites. Texas Tech has been solid overall but has struggled a bit against the spread recently. Here are the top betting trends to watch for this game:
- Akron is 25-1 straight up as favorites.
- Akron is 20-12 on the over/under for all games.
- Texas Tech is 22-6 straight up as favorites.
- Texas Tech is 19-13 on the over/under for all games.
- Akron is 3-2 on the over/under in their last 5 games.
Free Betting Prediction for Texas Tech vs Akron
The game between Texas Tech and Akron will be exciting. Texas Tech has a strong offense, but they have struggled recently. Their recent losses show some weaknesses. Akron, on the other hand, has been winning games. Their offense is scoring a lot, and they have a good field goal percentage. Texas Tech will rely on Christian Anderson and JT Toppin. Anderson scores well, and Toppin is strong in rebounds. Akron will look to Tavari Johnson and Amani Lyles. Johnson scores many points, and Lyles is good at grabbing rebounds. Both teams have key players who can change the game. Considering the stats and recent performances, Texas Tech might win. They are the favorites and have a strong home advantage. However, Akron’s recent form and scoring ability make them a tough opponent. The game could be close, but Texas Tech should cover the spread.
- Our Free Prediction: Texas Tech -7.5
