- Matchup: Akron Zips vs Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
- Venue: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
- Broadcast: truTV
- Betting Odds: Texas Tech favored by 8 points
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders (22-10) are set to face the Akron Zips (29-5) at the Benchmark International Arena this Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Vegas sportsbooks have opened Akron as 8-point underdogs, with a total points line of 156.
In their last outing, the Akron Zips secured a narrow victory against Toledo, winning 79-76. The Zips committed a total of 20 personal fouls, while Toledo recorded 24. Akron succeeded in hitting 10 out of 24 three-point attempts, whereas Toledo achieved a 76.9% success rate at the free-throw line, making 10 of 13 attempts. Toledo managed to grab 42 rebounds (17 offensive and 25 defensive) but did not register a block. The Zips, meanwhile, collected 33 rebounds (7 offensive), recorded 11 assists, forced 8 turnovers, and achieved 3 steals. They ended the game with a 46.5% field goal percentage (33-of-71) and connected on 10 of 34 shots from beyond the arc.
Amani Lyles was a standout performer in this contest, contributing 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, alongside 16 rebounds and 2 assists in 31 minutes of play, finishing the game with an impressive 58.3% shooting accuracy.
Entering this matchup, Akron boasts an impressive 29-5 season record, averaging 88.4 points per game (7th nationally) on a shooting percentage of 50.3%. The Zips excel in three-point shooting, connecting on 37.9% of their attempts (371 of 979) and maintaining a free-throw percentage of 75.4%. The team averages 38.1 rebounds per game and has tallied 627 assists for the season, ranking 4th in the nation for assists. They average 10.9 turnovers and commit 15.8 personal fouls per game.
Defensively, the Zips are forcing 13.5 turnovers per game while allowing 15.6 personal fouls. Currently, they rank 229th nationally in conceding assists, having allowed 450 throughout the season. Opponents are shooting 42.1% against them (874 of 2,074) as the Zips allow an average of 33.1 rebounds per game, alongside a 34.9% shot success rate from three-point range. They rank 172nd in points allowed per game with an average of 73.5.
In their previous game, the Texas Tech Red Raiders suffered a loss to Iowa State, finishing with a score of 75-53. The Red Raiders collected 27 total rebounds (21 defensive and 6 offensive), turning the ball over 10 times while recording 6 steals. With Iowa State committing 14 fouls, the Red Raiders made 10 attempts at the free-throw line, converting only 6 for a 60.0% success rate. Texas Tech struggled with their shooting, hitting only 9 of 29 three-point attempts (31.0%) and finishing the game at 33.9% from the floor with 19 of 56 shots made. Defensively, Texas Tech allowed Iowa State to shoot 53.6% overall and 38.9% from beyond the arc, plus they conceded 33 rebounds (including 6 offensive).
LeJuan Watts was a notable contributor for the Red Raiders, scoring 12 points in 28 minutes and adding 2 assists for good measure. He shot 41.7%, making 5 of 12 attempts, along with 7 rebounds.
Texas Tech’s record stands at 22-10 for the season. They are averaging 16.3 fouls per game and shooting 71.5% from the charity stripe, distributing 15.8 assists per contest (69th in Division 1), with an average of 10.8 turnovers. The Red Raiders have accumulated 2,573 points this season (80.4 per game), while securing 36.9 rebounds each game. Offensively, Texas Tech is hitting 46.7% of their shots, ranking 89th in college basketball.
The defense of Texas Tech concedes a 31.5% success rate on three-point attempts (212 of 674) and allows opponents to make 69.4% of their free throws. They are averaging 11.0 assists allowed and 34.1 rebounds given up per game, placing them 22nd and 152nd in college basketball, respectively. The Red Raiders are ranked 141st in points allowed per game, giving up an average of 72.6. They are effective at forcing opponents to commit 10.0 turnovers per game while allowing teams to achieve a 43.9% shooting average (163rd nationally).
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Bet on Texas Tech (-8)
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
