The No. 4 seed Arizona Wildcats will face off against the No. 13 Akron Zips in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Friday evening. Arizona, boasting a 22-12 record, went 14-6 in their inaugural year in the Big 12 and finished as runner-up in the conference tournament with a loss to Houston (72-64).

In contrast, Akron (28-6) clinched both the MAC regular season and conference tournament titles, marking their second consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Match Details:

• Tip-off: 7:35 p.m. ET from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
• Spread: Arizona -14.5.
• Over/Under: 165.5 points.
• Moneyline: Arizona -1124, Akron +707.

Arizona has shown streaky performances this season while facing one of the toughest schedules, playing against 21 Quad 1 opponents, achieving a 10-11 record.

Why Arizona can cover

Sharply led by senior guard Caleb Love, who averages 16.6 points per game in his final college season, Arizona poses a potent threat when they score above 80 points, with a record of 18-2 this season. Their experience in high-stakes situations of the tournament makes them a formidable opponent.

Why Akron can cover

Akron enters the game with a ’nothing to lose’ mindset, looking to build on their previous NCAA experience. Led by guards Nate Johnson and Tavari Johnson, they are prepared to play a fast-paced game to keep pressure on Arizona.

How to make Arizona vs. Akron picks

The SportsLine model is currently leaning under the total with a projection of 158 points combined, suggesting there may be value on one side of the spread. For expert insights, visit SportsLine for further guidance.