Akron vs Northern Illinois Predictions, Picks, and Best Bets for College Football Week 12

The Huskies are better than Akron, but the gap isn't big enough to warrant 15.5 points.

Phil Naessens - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Phil Naessens • Betting Analyst
Nov 13, 2024 • 16:02 ET • 4 min read
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This article contains predictions for an old game!

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Ben Finley Akron Zips NCAAF
Photo By - Imagn Images. Pictured: Quarterback Ben Finley steps back to throw the ball for Akron.

Get ready for an enjoyable MACtion matchup when the Akron Zips meet the Northern Illinois Huskies this evening. 

The Zips have had woes in the red zone, but my Akron vs. Northern Illinois predictions expect some of those woes to end against the Huskies.

Read on as I explain my free college football picks for Wednesday, November 13. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Huskie Stadium in Dekalb, with the game airing on CBS Sports Network. 

Akron vs Northern Illinois prediction and best bet

My best bet
Akron +15.5 (-110 at FanDuel)
Picks made at 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 in the nation, with 10 trips to the end zone in 20 attempts.

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

Akron QB Ben Finley anchors the fourth-best passing offense to offset the Zips' non-existent rushing game. The problem is they can’t score from 20 yards in, and that’s the only reason the Zips average fewer than 19 points per game.

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

Akron’s defense will do the rest.

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

If Akron stops the run, it'll cover the spread. The Zips have good tacklers and are decent against stopping the pass. 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 get the job done with his arm, the defense to slow the rush, and Akron to cover the huge spread. 

Akron vs Northern Illinois same-game parlay (SGP)

Akron +15.5

Akron team total Over 14.5

Northern Illinois team total Under 30.5 points

I like Akron to cover, and I expect a big day from the Zips' offense.

Finley threw for 354 yards his last time out against Buffalo. We’ve already seen how NIU can beaten in 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're good tacklers and decent against the rush, and NIU has only scored 31+ once in its last five games and thrice this season. 

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

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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
  • Akron vs. Northern Illinois moneyline: 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 across its last five, which is likely why the spread spiked by as many as two points from the +13.5 (-110) opener. 
  • NIU is 2-2-1 ATS across its previous five but 1-2-1 ATS this season at Huskies Stadium. 
  • The total has dipped sharply to as low as 45.5 (-110) from its 48.5 (-110) opener.

Akron vs Northern Illinois betting trend to know

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

Akron vs Northern Illinois game info

Location: Huskie Stadium, Dekalb, IL
Date: Wednesday, 11-13, 2024
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: CBSSN

Akron vs Northern Illinois latest injuries

Akron vs Northern Illinois weather

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Phil Naessens
Betting Analyst

Prior to joining Covers in 2022, Phil Naessens spent 38 years as a resident tennis pro in Las Vegas, Mykonos, and Corfu Greece. He’s the past host of the Phil Naessens Show (Armed Forces Radio), and currently hosts the tennis betting podcast, This Week in Tennis.

Phil is the author of the Betting 101 series (MLB, NFL, NCAAF, and Tennis) and has written for numerous publications including SB Nation, FanSided and Lenny Melnick Fantasy Sports. Phil curates the Chip and Charge Tennis Newsletter and pens a weekly tennis column called “10 Things About the ATP Tour," for Passing Shot Productions. 

His favorite sports to bet on are tennis, MLB, WNBA, Euro men’s and women’s hoops, NCAA sports, NFL, and the NBA. Phil has numerous betting accounts in the US and Europe and his best advice is to line shop for the best value possible.

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