The set-up: The Akron Zips are 20-4 overall and are easily the MAC's top team, leading the East with a 10-1 record (note: no other MAC team is better than 6-5 in league play, in either the East or West divisions). The Zips travel to Ypsilanti, Mi. Friday night to face the Eastern Michigan Eagles, who check in at 13-11 overall, including 5-6 in the West.

Akron: The Zips had a 12-game winning streak snapped 85-70 at Ohio U on Saturday (Feb. 4th) and then just barely edged Ball State 65-63 at home this past Tuesday (as a nine-point choice). However, as noted above, Akron is the class of the MAC, led by a pair of 6-10 players in Johnson (16.6 & 7.4) and Cheatham (11.7 & 7.8), who are joined by a quartet of guards all averaging between 7.8 and 9.4 PPG. The Zips shoot well (47.7% which ranks 41st) but hardly dominate foes, averaging 78.6 PPG while allowing 70.5.

Eastern Michigan: The Eagles have one 6-10 player in Thompson (14.2 & 10.8) but not two, like Akron. They do however, more than match Akron on the perimeter with four guards scoring in double digits. Mangum (15.6) leads the group, followed by Lee (13.1), Toney (10.4) and Bond (10.0). EMU scores about the same as Akron at 78.5 PPG and allows a similar amount of points as well (71.6).

The pick: While the team's look similar "on paper," take a second look at their respective records. At this price, make Akron an 8* play.