A thrilling clash awaits as the 14^th-seeded Akron Zips (24-10) square off against the Creighton Bluejays (23-9) in the opening round of the Men's Basketball Championship for the Midwest Region, set to unfold at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday, March 21^st, at 1:30 PM ET. The odds favor the Bluejays, boasting a point spread of -12.5 (-110).

The Zips are riding a three-game win streak and have excellent momentum coming into this battle. Their latest win was a 62-61 performance over the Kent State Golden Flashes, with the Golden Flashes showing a costly foul late to propel the Zips to victory.

Enrique Freeman leads them with 18.6 points scored and 12.9 rebounds grabbed a game. This ranks 66^th and first in the nation for this output.

The Zips score an average of 74.0 points per game, positioning them 164^th in the nation for scoring. Their offensive effectiveness is 110.1, cementing their place at 97^th in the rankings. Can they keep up with an uptempo Bluejays who thrive offensively?

On the defensive end, they allow an average of 65.9 points per game, ranking them 24^th in this category. Their defensive efficiency stands at 98.0, placing them 41^st nationally. Will this be enough to slow down the Bluejays explosive offense?

The Bluejays snapped their three-game winning streak when they fell short to the Providence Friars 78-73 in the quarterfinal matchup in the Big East Tournament. Shooting 37.9 percent from the field and having 11 turnovers again will not get them through, as this will likely send them home early.

Baylor Scheierman (18.4 PPG, 9.0 AST) is a good matchup compared to Freeman for his output. Scheierman ranks 70^th in points and 48^th for rebounds, which is appealing for a guard.

The Bluejays showcase a dynamic offensive strategy, currently positioned 33^rd nationally with an average of 80.5 points per game. Additionally, their offensive efficiency rating of 116.3 places them 19^th overall. A crucial factor for their success will be their ability to push the ball effectively.

Defensively, they hold opponents to an average of 69.7 points per game, which ranks them 105^th nationally. With a defensive efficiency rating of 100.7, they have secured the 98^th spot overall. While both teams boast impressive statistics, the Bluejays have a superior point differential in their winning performances.

MyBookie provides the latest odds for the opening-round match, with the Creighton Bluejays leading by a 12.5-point margin as the favored team. But how does the market like their chances? Market analysis suggests a high probability of success for the Bluejays, with odds tipping the scales at 89.3 percent in their favor.