Akron is just missing too many pieces. Pat Forsythe is doubtful for tonight's game, and that's just huge. He's the 6'11" big man, and not only will that effect the offense, but more importantly the defense. Akron had been a very good interior defending team, but not so much lately. They come in ice cold, since they also lost B.J. Gladden and Robotham (to an ACL injury). They've lost six of their last seven games, and you can't just turn it on, even against inferior competition. So, this is a fade of Akron as much as a bet ON Northern Illinois, but NI has to go into this thinking they can win. They've won four straight, including beating Toledo and Central Michigan (badly), they're very experienced and very big - and without Forsythe, not as length-disadvantaged as it may appear on paper. They get to the free throw line a ton - and if they get a thinned-out Akron team in foul trouble, Akron could be screwed here. They can play defense, which we know travels, and they're a great rebounding team. Akron has one way to win this game, and that's shooting three point shots. They're not a GREAT shooting team, and Robotham's loss puts it all on McAdams, who hasn't been someone who's used to playing huge minutes. Akron's non-conference schedule was horrible, and truly, they have a reasonable W'/L record, but haven't blown teams out, even at home.
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