The Akron Zips and Iowa State Cyclones will collide on the grass at Jack Trice Stadium. FSN will broadcast the action and the afternoon game is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Akron Zips at Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview
In this Saturday matchup, Iowa State has been projected as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 18 points. If they want to take the moneyline, bettors would currently have to wager $1,500 in order to win $100 back on the Cyclones (-1500). The Zips are getting +810 moneyline odds. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 50.5 points, and if one team can catch a lucky break early on, it would probably create a worthwhile betting opportunity in-game.
Sharp bettors are hammering the Zips, as the opening line was -20. The game’s total has yet to move after it was set initially at 50.5.
The Zips have gained 0.0 units this season and are 1-1 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 1-1. The Cyclones have lost 2.0 units so far. 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 hoping to remain undefeated following a 39-34 victory over Northwestern last week. Kato Nelson completed 17 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson (37 rushing yards on 15 attempts) also led the ground attack and was complemented by Van Edwards, Jr. (53 yards on 14 carries) in the win. Kwadarrius Smith (six receptions, 90 yards) and Andre Williams (three catches, 85 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties.
Iowa State most recently suffered a 37-27 loss to Oklahoma. The 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 yards on 21 rush attempts, one TD) handled the ground game in the defeat as Deshaunte Jones (nine receptions, 66 yards) and Hakeem Butler (five catches, 174 yards, two TDs) led the pass-catching corps.
Akron has run the ball on 56.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Iowa State has a rush percentage of 44.6 percent. The Zips have run for 145 yards/game and have two touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Cyclones are totaling 53 rushing yards per game and have only one rush TD.
It seems like the Zips might hold an advantage when it comes to RB efficiency. Their backfield has logged 3.9 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 2.1 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Cyclones have recorded 2.0 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 3.7 to opponents.
The Zips offensive scheme has averaged 257 yards through the air overall and has five passing scores so far. The Cyclones have produced 265 pass yards per contest and have two total pass TD.
On the defensive side of the ball, Akron seems to have the upper hand in both phases. The team has allowed 81 rush yards and 242 pass yards per game. The Iowa State defense has allowed 257.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 138.0 yards per game on the ground. The Zips are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.17 to opponents, while the Cyclones have given up a whopping 9.74 ANY/A.
Offensively, Nelson is up to 277 passing yards this year. The signal-caller has connected on 61 percent of his 28 attempts with two scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. He’s got a pristine 11.32 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 10.22 over the last two games.
Zeb Noland has completed 25-of-36 passes for 360 yards, two TDs and one INT for Iowa State. His ANY/A stands at 9.30 for the year and 8.00 over his last two outings.
When these two programs faced one another last year, Iowa State knocked off Akron soundly 41-14.
Betting Pick: Akron Zips at Iowa State Cyclones
SU Winner – Iowa State, ATS Winner – Akron, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
Akron was favored by 21 points in its last game and the O/U was 47.5. The over cashed and Akron failed to cover in the 39-34 victory over Northwestern.
The Iowa State offense has lost one fumble this season while Akron has let two get away.
Iowa State was getting 19 points in its last game and the O/U was set at 55.5. The over cashed and Iowa State covered in the team’s 37-27 loss to Oklahoma.
The Zips offense has tallied three pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Cyclones have accounted for two such plays.
The Akron defense has allowed one pass play of 40 or more yards, while Iowa State has given up three such plays.
The Akron offense has created three rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Iowa State has created zero such run.
The Zips defense has allowed zero rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Cyclones have given up one such run.
The Akron defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks three times this season. Iowa State has produced one sack.
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