Akron vs. UCLA: NCAA Tournament odds, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom

UCLA opens play in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday with a First Round matchup against Akron at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Ahead of the game, which will be broadcast live on TBS, predictions and betting odds – including KenPom analytics – are rolling in.

How to watch Akron vs. UCLA

Tip-off: 9:50 p.m. ET

Location: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon

Channel: TBS

Vegas odds

UCLA is a 13.5-point favorite over Akron in the NCAA Tournament, according to VegasInsider. The over-under is set at 128.5 points.

ESPN BPI prediction

Predicted winner: UCLA

Predicted point differential: 15.6

Win probability (for UCLA): 93.7%

Matchup quality: 73.0

ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a tool that measures team strength and uses that to predict outcomes of future performances. ESPN’s BPI has Akron vs UCLA ranked as the 10th highest-rated game on Thursday’s NCAA Tournament slate in terms of matchup quality.

KenPom prediction

Predicted final score: UCLA 71, Akron 58

Win probability (for UCLA): 89%

KenPom is another tool that provides advanced analysis across college basketball. Like ESPN, KenPom projects that UCLA comes away with a victory over Akron.

More on Akron vs. UCLA

Coming into this First Round game, the big story focuses on UCLA head coach Mick Cronin. He agreed to a six-year contract extension with the Bruins on Thursday morning. The financial details of the new contract have not become public at this time, but reports suggest he will become the highest-paid Pac-12 basketball coach.

UCLA returns to the NCAA Tournament under different circumstances than last season, when it made the field through the First Four, but the expectation of Final Four potential remains the same. The path starts against Akron. The Zips upset the favorites in the MAC to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament this season through controversial circumstances.