Red Raiders vs Zips: Upset Alert

0:00On March 19, Texas Tech Red Raiders, with a 22-in-10 record, face the Akron Zips, who stand at 29-in-5 in the first round of the NCAA tournament tomorrow at 11.40am, Central Time in Tampa, Florida. The game airs on True TV, and while the fifth-seeded Red Raiders are favored by seven-and-a-half points, this match up carries real upset potential. Since the field expanded in 1985, 12 seeds have knocked off five seeds, 36% of the time, including high points win. Over Wisconsin already this year, both teams share common foes in Milwaukee and Purdue, Akron crushed Milwaukee by 24, while Texas Tech won by 17. Against Purdue, the Zips fell by 18 on the road, and the Red Raiders by 30 at a neutral site. Akron also hung tough, losing by just four at Miami of Ohio, a team that dropped only one game all season, and beat SMU in the first four. Texas Tech fans have reason to worry, as the Red Raiders have struggled lately on the defensive boards, and with turnovers, even from their star point.

1:06Guard, Akron style plays right into those weaknesses, making this far from a sure thing despite the seeding. The Zips average 88 points per game with balance scoring from everywhere, 50% from the floor, 38 from three, and 75 at the line. They rank high in offensive rebounding despite lacking size. Dish over 18 assists a game, force 14 turnovers, and turn those into 18 points. Texas Tech will need tight defense on Akron's Tavari Johnson, who drops 20 points and five assists, and big man Amani Liles with his 15 and 8 plus deep shooting. If the Red Raiders clean up their rebounding and ball handling, they advance, but expect a battle either way.