The Miami (Oh) RedHawks and Akron Zips will square off on the turf at Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+ and kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
Miami (OH) RedHawks at Akron Zips Betting Preview
In this Saturday Mid-American game, Akron is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 4 points. The RedHawks are also receiving +155 moneyline odds while the Zips are -175. There should be some solid live betting scenarios in this game, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 47 points.
The early action has shifted in favor of both the RedHawks and the under. The opening line was initially set at -5 and the total was originally 48.5.
The RedHawks are 2-3 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 3.4 units this season. The team has posted an O/U record of 3-2. The Zips have lost 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this year. They’re 2-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 1-2.
The RedHawks have gone 1-4 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against conference opponents. The Zips are 2-1 SU overall and 0-0 SU in conference play.
The RedHawks fell to Western Michigan 40-39 in a game where the defense allowed the Broncos to pass for 439 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 123 yards. D’Wayne Eskridge had a productive day for the opposition in that one with 141 yards on seven catches. On the offense, Gus Ragland completed 22-of-32 passes for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Alonzo Smith (20 rushing yards on 13 attempts) led the ground attack in the loss. Jack Sorenson (nine receptions, 156 yards) and Dominique Robinson (four catches, 59 yards, two TDs) shared the receiving duties.
Akron just lost a 26-13 game to Iowa State two weeks ago. The defense allowed the Cyclones to run for 132 yards on 35 rush attempts, along with one rushing TD. David Montgomery put up a good showing, posting 107 rushing yards and a score on 23 attempts for Iowa State. For Akron, Kato Nelson completed 12-of-28 passes for 153 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Nelson (56 rushing yards on 15 attempts) and Van Edwards, Jr. (23 yards on 12 carries) spearheaded the ground game in the defeat as Nate Stewart (four receptions, 52 yards) and Jonah Morris (three catches, 37 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Miami (OH)’s run the ball on 49.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Akron has a rush percentage of 54.9 percent. The RedHawks have produced 116 rush yards/game (including 172 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have five scores via handoffs this year. The Zips are averaging 127 rush yards per game and have two total rushing TDs.
If 2018 results are any indication, then it seems like the RedHawks might be the more disruptive team in the trenches, as their offensive line has allowed just 21 sacks while their D-line logged 18 sacks. The Zips, on the other hand, have given up 38 sacks and their defense has created only 21 sacks.
The RedHawks offense has averaged 203 yards in the air overall (207 per game versus conference opposition) and has eight passing TDs so far. The Zips have recorded 222 pass yards per outing and have six total pass scores.
Defensively, Miami (OH) has let opponents rush for an average of 137 yards and pass for 247 yards per game. The Akron defense has allowed 238.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 98.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Zips are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.03 to opponents, while the RedHawks have given up a 7.89 ANY/A.
Offensively, Ragland is up to 898 passing yards this season, and has connected on 80-of-139 attempts with six scores through the air and two interceptions. He has a 6.29 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 10.56 over the past two games.
In the home locker room, Kato Nelson has completed 28-of-54 passes for 385 yards, four TDs and two INTs. Nelson’s ANY/A stands at 5.92 for the season and 7.02 over his past two outings.
When these two teams faced each other last year, Miami (OH) earned the win 24-14.
RELATED: Week 6 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Prediction: Miami (OH) RedHawks at Akron Zips
SU Winner – Miami (OH), ATS Winner – Miami (OH), O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The RedHawks offense has created two pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Zips have accounted for three such plays.
Both teams have allowed one pass play of 40 or more yards. The Miami (OH) defense has given up eight pass plays of 30+ yards while Akron has given up one such plays.
The Miami (OH) offense has created five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Akron has created four such run.
Both teams have allowed one rushing play of 20 yards or more. The RedHawks have given up 28 running plays of 10+ yards while the Zips have given up 13 such plays.
The Miami (OH) defense has 11 sacks on the year while Akron has just four.
Miami (OH) has averaged 4.4 yards per carry over its last two matchups.
Akron has averaged 2.7 yards per carry over its last two.
In its last three contests, Akron is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Miami (OH) was getting 3 points in its last game and the O/U was set at 53. The over cashed and Miami (OH) covered in the 40-39 loss to Western Michigan.
Over its last three matches, Miami (OH) is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Akron was favored by 20 points in its previous game and the Over/Under was set at 47.5. The under cashed and Akron failed to cover in the 26-13 loss to Iowa State.
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