Buffalo Bulls vs. Akron Zips prediction, pick for NCAAM on Thursday 3/12/26 The MAC Tournament kicks off on Thursday, with the second game of the day featuring a matchup between second-seeded Akron and seventh-seeded Buffalo. Akron, a dark horse in the March Madness race, enters as 12.5-point favorites (-118) over the Bulls, with the total set at 159.5 points. The Zips will need to secure a win to advance in the tournament, while Buffalo aims to upset a top-tier mid-major team. Buffalo has undergone a significant turnaround this season, improving its win total by eight games. Head coach George Halcovage has implemented an uptempo style of play, leading the Bulls to a 115.4 offensive rating and a fourth-best adjusted offensive efficiency in the MAC. Key contributors include junior Ryan Sabol, who averages 18.7 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. However, the absence of leading scorer Daniel Freitag, who is sidelined with a head injury, poses a challenge. Freitag’s absence leaves only Angelo Brizzi (14.4 points per game) as a consistent offensive threat, and the Bulls struggle in low-scoring games, surrendering an 80+ point margin in four of their last eight contests. Akron, meanwhile, has emerged as a strong contender in the MAC. Despite a three-point loss to #20 Miami OH, the Zips remain undefeated in conference play and boast a +13.50 net rating, the 59th-best in college basketball. Their offensive prowess is highlighted by guard Tavari Johnson, who leads the conference with 20.2 points per game on 52/37/90 shooting splits. Johnson is supported by a deep roster, including Amani Lyles (14.8 PPG) and Shammah Scott (12.6 PPG). Akron’s three-point shooting remains a strength, ranking seventh nationally at 39.2% from long range, which could be a key factor against Buffalo’s 37.9% accuracy.#buffalo_bulls #akron_zips #george_halcovage #ryan_sabol #daniel_freitag
