The Cyclones (-18) are prepared to host the Akron Zips in Iowa State. FSN owns the TV rights and the game’s scheduled to kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Akron Zips vs. Iowa State Cyclones
Akron is a big road underdog in this game and is currently getting 18 points. If they want to play the moneyline, bettors would currently have to put up $1,500 in order to win $100 back on the Cyclones (-1500). The Zips are getting +810 moneyline odds. This tilt should provide several decent in-game betting scenarios, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 50.5 points.
The game’s total has not moved after it was set initially at 50.5. Having said that, the opening line was -20 so square bettors are hammering the Zips.
The Zips are 1-1 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 0.0 units so far in 2018. The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 1-1.
The Cyclones are down 2.0 units this season. The team is 1-1 ATS and also has an O/U record of 1-1.
The Zips are 2-0 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Cyclones are 0-2 SU.
The Zips are looking to remain undefeated after a 39-34 win over Northwestern last week. Kato Nelson completed 17-of-28 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson (37 yards on 15 rush attempts) also spearheaded the ground attack and was complemented by Van Edwards, Jr. (53 yards on 14 carries). Kwadarrius Smith (six receptions, 90 yards) and Andre Williams (three catches, 85 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the win.
A week ago, Oklahoma took care of this Iowa State crew by a score of 37-27. The Cyclones defense allowed the Sooners to pass for 348 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 171 yards. Marquise Brown was a force to be reckoned with, recording 191 yards on nine catches for Oklahoma. For Iowa State, Zeb Noland completed 25-of-36 passes for 360 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. David Montgomery (82 rushing yards on 21 attempts, one TD) spearheaded the running game as Deshaunte Jones (nine receptions, 66 yards) and Hakeem Butler (five catches, 174 yards, two TDs) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Akron has run the ball on 56.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Iowa State has an overall rush percentage of 44.6 percent. The Zips have run for 145.0 yards per game and have two touchdowns on the ground this year. The Cyclones are totaling 53.0 rush yards per game and have only one rushing TD.
Judging by the early season results, it appears the Zips may hold an advantage in all aspects of the ground game, since their backfield has produced 3.9 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 2.1 to opponents. The Cyclones have ran for 2.0 yards per carry and allowed 3.7 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Zips offensive scheme has averaged 257.0 yards in the air overall and has five passing scores so far. The Cyclones have produced 264.5 pass yards per game and have two total pass TD.
Defensively, Akron should have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 81.0 yards and pass for 241.5 yards per game. The Iowa State defense has allowed 257.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 138.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Zips are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.17 to opposing QBs, while the Cyclones have allowed a staggering 9.74 ANY/A.
Offensively, Nelson has amassed 277 passing yards this season, and has connected on 61 percent of his 28 attempts with two passing scores and has yet to throw an interception. He’s got a sparkling 11.32 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 10.22 over the last two games.
Zeb Noland has connected on 25-of-36 passes for 360 yards, two TDs and one INT for Iowa State. His ANY/A sits at 9.30 for the year and 8.00 across his last two outings.
When these two teams faced one another last year, Iowa State knocked Akron off easily 41-14.
Akron Zips at Iowa State Cyclones Bedding Prediction
SU Winner: Iowa State, ATS Winner: Iowa State, O/U: Under
