Akron vs. Northern Illinois predictions, tips and best bets for college football Week 12

Get ready for an entertaining MACtion match as the Akron Zips face the Northern Illinois Huskies tonight.

The Zips have had issues in the red zone, but my predictions for Akron vs. Northern Illinois are that some of those issues will end against the Huskies.

Read on as I break down my free college football picks for Wednesday, November 13th. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET at Huskie Stadium in Dekalb and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Prediction and best bet for Akron vs. Northern Illinois

My best choice
Akron +15.5 (-110 on FanDuel)
Picks made at the time of writing may not reflect live odds.

My analysis
The Akron Zips are a good eighty yard team. Their red zone offense ranks 118th nationally, with 10 trips to the end zone on 20 attempts.

Hopefully Akron took the four extra days to prepare for Wednesday’s matchup and figure out its RZ issues. The Northern Illinois Huskies rank 18th nationally with 10 rushing TDs allowed in 24 attempts.

Akron’s QB Ben Finley provides the fourth-best passing offense to make up for the Zips’ nonexistent rushing game. The problem is that they can’t score from 20 yards, and that’s the only reason the Zips average less than 19 points per game.

The Huskies’ stopping unit tops the MAC in points allowed (18.8) and total yards allowed (287.5). They have been tough, but have also allowed 19+ in three of their last five games, opening the door for Akron to cover.

Akron’s defense will do the rest.

The Zips stop unit looks worse on paper than it could be. Their stats look bad because they’ve played top Power 5 offenses, and this NIU offense isn’t one of them. Akron is also decent against the rush. The Huskies have a top rushing offense with a standout defender in Antario Brown, but he left the WMU game and did not return.

If Akron stops the run, the spread is covered. The Zips have good tacklers and can stop the pass well. NIU QB Ethan Hampton is a dual-threat player, but his arm isn’t as good as his legs.

The Zips have had four extra days to prepare, and I expect Finley to do the work with his arm, the defense to slow the rush, and Akron to cover the big spread.

Akron vs. Northern Illinois, Match Game Parlay (SGP)

Akron +15.5

Akron team overall over 14.5

Northern Illinois team total score under 30.5 points

I like Akron’s coverage and expect the Zips’ offense to have a big day.

Finley threw for 354 yards in his last game against Buffalo. We’ve already seen how NIU can hit through the air, and I expect Akron to move the chains and find a way to end its RZ scoring woes.

The Zips’ defense is also better than advertised. They are good tacklers and good against the rush, and NIU has scored 31+ goals just once in the last five games and three times this season.

Learn how to place a bet in the same game with these helpful tips and strategies.

Akron vs. Northern Illinois odds

Akron vs Northern Illinois live odds

Akron vs. Northern Illinois opening odds

• Akron vs. Northern Illinois spread: Northern Illinois -13.5
• Money line Akron vs. Northern Illinois: Akron +400, Northern Illinois -550
• Akron vs. Northern Illinois Over/Under: 48.5

Odds courtesy of BetMGM

Akron vs. Northern Illinois Spread and Over/Under Analysis

• Akron is 2-3-0 ATS in its last five games, which is likely why the spread has increased by as much as two points since the opening game of +13.5 (-110).
• NIU is 2-2-1 ATS in its last five games, but is 1-2-1 ATS at Huskies Stadium this season.
• The overall value has fallen sharply compared to the opening value of 48.5 (-110) to as low as 45.5 (-110).

Akron vs. Northern Illinois betting trend worth knowing

Akron has scored more than 15 goals in each of its last four games. Find more college football betting trends for Akron vs. Northern Illinois.

Information about the Akron vs. Northern Illinois game

Akron vs. Northern Illinois, recent injuries

Weather Akron vs. Northern Illinois

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