The Akron Zips and Northern Illinois Huskies are ready to square off on the turf at Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium. ESPN 3 has the TV rights and kickoff for this conference game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Akron Zips at Northern Illinois Huskies
Northern Illinois is heavily favored in this matchup and is currently giving up 23 points to Akron. If the Zips seize momentum early it’ll result in a worthy live betting scenario. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 44.5 points.
This game’s total hasn’t moved after it was initially set at 44.5. Having said that, the opening line was -25 and has recently moved up to -23.
The disappointing Zips have lost 9.7 units so far and are 0-7 against the spread (ATS). The team has recorded an Over-Under mark of 3-4.
The Huskies have lost 2.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-3 ATS and also have an O/U record of 3-4.
The Zips are 0-7 straight up (SU), including 0-3 SU against MAC opponents. The Huskies are 2-5 SU overall and 1-2 SU in conference play.
When these two schools faced each other a year ago, Northern Illinois earned the win 36-26.
The Zips are most-recently on the rebound after a 21-0 shutout to Buffalo last week. Zach Gibson completed only 22 passes on 39 attempts for 193 yards and one interception. The Zips rushed for just three yards as a team in the loss.
Northern Illinois narrowly lost a 27-24 game to Miami (OH). As a group, the Huskies collectively completed 21-of-35 passes for 235 yards and one touchdown. Marcus Childers went 14-for-23 for 144 yards and one touchdown while Ross Bowers was seven-of-12 for 91 yards. Tre Harbison (83 rushing yards on 26 attempts) led the running game as Cole Tucker (six receptions, 82 yards, one TD) and Spencer Tears (four catches, 33 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Akron has run the ball on 42.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Northern Illinois has an overall rush percentage of 46.4 percent. The Zips have rushed for 50.4 yards/game (including 48.3 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have two scores on the ground this year. The Huskies are putting up 110 rushing yards per game (143.7 in conference) and have nine total rush TDs.
The Zips offensive scheme has tallied 243.1 yards/contest through the air overall (225.7 per game against conference opposition) and has nine passing scores so far. The Huskies have produced 272.4 pass yards per outing (272 in the MAC) and have six total pass TDs.
Akron has let opponents run for an average of 198.7 yards and throw for 214.1 yards per game. The Northern Illinois D has given up 206.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 164.3 yards per game to opposing runners. The Huskies are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 7.66 to opponents, while the Zips have given up an 8.19 ANY/A.
Bowers has completed 110-of-193 passes for 1,388 yards, four TDs and four INTs. Bowers’ adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 5.78 for the year and 7.25 across his past two outings. In the other huddle, Kato Nelson has put up 1,265 passing yards on the year, and has completed 106-of-184 attempts with eight passing touchdowns and three interceptions. Nelson’s got a 5.81 ANY/A, including 6.00 over the last two outings.
Akron Zips at Northern Illinois Huskies Bedding Prediction
SU Winner: Northern Illinois, ATS Winner: Akron, O/U: Over
Betting Trends
- The O/U for Akron’s last game was set at 47.5. The under cashed in the team’s 21-0 defeat to Buffalo.
- As a team, Akron has produced 2.1 yards per carry over its last three games and 1.8 over its last two.
- Northern Illinois has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.8 over its past two.
- Northern Illinois has lost three fumbles this season while Akron has lost 10.
- In its last three contests, Akron is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Northern Illinois’ previous game going into it was 48. The over cashed in the 27-24 defeat to Miami (OH).
- Over its last three matches, Northern Illinois is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Zips have made 14 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Huskies have accounted for 12 such plays.
- Both defenses have allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Akron defense has given up 10 pass plays of 30+ yards while Northern Illinois has permitted eight such plays.
- The Akron offense has created zero rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Northern Illinois has created seven such runs.
- The Zips defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Huskies have given up 11 such runs.
- The Northern Illinois defensive unit has recorded double the sack total of Akron this season (eight versus four).
