Kent State Golden Flashes vs Akron Zips Picks and Prediction for Friday March 13 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/13/2026, 02:05 AM ET

The Kent State Golden Flashes face the Akron Zips in the MAC Championship Semifinal on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET with television coverage on CBSSN. Akron enters the matchup as a 6.5-point favorite with the total listed at 163.5. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily predictions and betting insights.

Kent State Bringing Momentum into MAC Semifinal

Kent State enters the MAC Championship Semifinal with a 24-8 overall record and a 14-4 mark in MAC play. The Golden Flashes advanced after recently winning over Ohio 86-75 in the tournament quarterfinal. Over their last five games, Kent State has recently won over Ohio, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Central Michigan while recently losing to Akron.

On the season, Kent State averages 85.6 points per game while allowing 79.8 points per contest. The Golden Flashes shoot 46% from the field and average 39.7 rebounds and 16.4 assists per game. Defensively, Kent State contributes 3.6 blocks and 6.8 steals per contest while attempting to control the boards and push the tempo offensively.

In their quarterfinal victory over Ohio, Delrecco Gillespie led the Golden Flashes with 27 points and also led the team with eight rebounds. Kent State shot 48% from the field and committed just five turnovers while producing a balanced offensive attack. However, the Golden Flashes face a short turnaround after playing the quarterfinal and now must deal with a strong Akron team that defeated them earlier this month.

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Akron Looking to Continue Dominant Season

Akron enters the MAC Championship Semifinal with a 27-5 overall record and a dominant 17-1 mark in MAC play. The Zips advanced after recently winning over Buffalo 73-70 in the tournament quarterfinal. Over their last five games, Akron has recently won over Buffalo twice, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan, and Kent State.

On the season, Akron averages 89.6 points per game while allowing 73.6 points per contest. The Zips shoot an impressive 51% from the field and average 38.2 rebounds and 19.0 assists per game. Defensively, Akron contributes 3.0 blocks and 7.7 steals per contest while relying on efficient offense and ball movement to generate scoring opportunities.

In their quarterfinal win over Buffalo, Tavari Johnson led the Zips with 25 points while Amani Lyles controlled the glass with 16 rebounds. Akron held Buffalo to 46% shooting and won the rebounding battle 36-33 while maintaining offensive balance. With the Zips already holding a convincing 92-70 win over Kent State earlier this season and entering with strong momentum, Akron appears well positioned in this semifinal matchup.

Kent State vs Akron Pick

Kent State vs Akron Spread Pick

Pick: Akron -6.5

Akron has been one of the most efficient offensive teams in the MAC this season and already proved it can handle Kent State with a 22-point victory earlier this month. The Zips hold the advantage in shooting percentage and ball movement, while Kent State enters on a short turnaround after its quarterfinal win. With Akron’s offensive efficiency and depth, the Zips have a strong chance to control the game and cover the spread.

Kent State vs Akron Total Pick

Pick: Over 163.5

I like the over in this matchup because both teams play at an aggressive offensive pace and rank among the top scoring teams in the MAC. Kent State averages over 85 points per game, while Akron averages nearly 90 points per contest. With both teams capable of pushing tempo and creating scoring opportunities, this game has a strong chance to turn into a high-scoring semifinal.

Final Score Prediction: Akron 88, Kent State 81

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