Get ready to clear your Friday afternoon plans.
The Wildcats, the No. 4 seed in the East Region, have opened as a 13.5-point favorite over Akron, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Arizona has -1250 odds to win straight up.
Arizona and Akron will tip off at 4:35 p.m. PT on Friday at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. The game will be televised on TruTV.
If the Wildcats were to advance, they would play the winner of No. 5 Oregon and No. 12 Liberty in the Round of 32 on Sunday.
The line is the largest among the four No. 4 vs. No. 13 seed matchups, perhaps an indication that oddsmakers and bettors expect Arizona to get past the Zips.
Arizona enters the NCAA Tournament having covered four of its last 10 games, according to OddsShark. Akron is also 4-6 against the spread (ATS) over its last 10 games.
Under Tommy Lloyd, Arizona is just 1-5-1 ATS in the NCAA Tournament. The one game Arizona covered was last year’s Round of 32 win over Dayton.
Historically, Arizona is a bad team to bet as a favorite in March Madness. Since 2013, the Wildcats are 5-13-2 ATS as favorites in the NCAA Tournament and just 13-7 overall.