Akron vs. Nebraska Prediction
Will the Scott Frost-era start off with a dominant victory when Nebraska plays host to Akron on Saturday at 8PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
Saturday, September 1, 2018
8PM ET – Notre Dame Stadium
TV: FOX
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Nebraska is favored to win this game, as the Cornhuskers are getting odds of -26 points against Akron. The over/under total for the game is listed at 54.5 points. The public betting for this game currently has 74 percent going on Nebraska at home. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our College Football Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Zips break out in 2017
While Akron ended up just 7-7 for the 2017 season, the Zips went 6-2 in the MAC East and appeared in the conference championship game. Terry Bowden enters his seventh season as head coach of the team. Akron ended up 9-5 against the spread in 2017 with an 11-3 mark with the under.
The Zips allowed 392 points a year ago, which needs to improve. Offensively, Akron put up just 310 points. Kato Nelson returns to lead the offense. The sophomore threw for 989 yards and eight touchdowns last year when he was forced into the starting lineup due to off-the-field issues for then-starter Thomas Woodson. Nelson has the ability to run as well, which should help a ground game that posted only 1,480 yards as a team. Helping Nelson is receiver Kwadarrius Smith, who had 34 catches for 726 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago.
Nebraska starts new era
After a woeful 2017 season that saw Nebraska go 4-8, the Cornhuskers hired Scott Frost to be the new head coach. Frost is a former Cornhusker player and spent the last two season at Central Florida. He guided the Golden Knights to a perfect record in 2017. Last season, Nebraska ended up 4-8 against the spread and 7-4-1 with the over.
The Cornhuskers scored just 309 points last season and allowed 437. Frost is electing to go with a freshman at quarterback this year in Adrian Martinez. Luckily for Martinez, he has some strong receivers to throw to in Stanley Morgan Jr. and JD Spielman. Each have over 800 yards last year and Morgan Jr. posted 10 touchdowns catches. The team also returns leading rusher Devine Ozigbo, but he had just 493 yards in 2017.
College Football Betting Trends
Akron
Akron has covered in five of its last seven road games, but is just 1-4 against the spread in its last five against Big Ten opponents.
Nebraska
Nebraska is 4-10 against the spread in its last 14 games overall and 1-9-2 ATS in its last 12 home games.
Prediction:
I don’t think looking at last year’s trends will help for this game. Nebraska is a new team under Frost. While I don’t think they will be a juggernaut right from the start, they should get better with each week. In this game, I think Nebraska will be looking to come out and make a statement against a poor team in Akron. The Zips don’t have an offense to contend with the Huskers and their defense is definitely capable of giving up big plays. I see the Huskers winning big in this one.
College Football Prediction: Nebraska -26