Akron Zips vs Western Michigan Broncos Betting Pick & Prediction 10/12/24

ESPN+ will be covering the week seven matchup between the Akron Zips and Western Michigan Broncos, set to kick off at 3:30 ET from Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo. The Broncos are the -9.5-point favorites at home, with the over/under line currently at 53.5 points. Akron enters the game with a 1-5 record, while Western Michigan is 2-3 on the season.

AKRON ZIPS VS WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Akron Zips +9.5

This game will be played at Waldo Stadium at 3:30 ET on Saturday, October 12th.

WHY BET THE AKRON ZIPS:

• We have the Western Michigan Broncos winning this one by a score of 30 to 27
• Even though we like the Western Michigan Broncos to win, our ATS pick is to take the Akron Zips at +9.5
• Look for this game to go over the line of 53.5 points

Will The Akron Zips Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs

Akron enters Week 7 with a 1-5 record against Western Michigan. They are ranked 129th in our CFB power rankings and have just a 1.3% chance of reaching bowl eligibility this season.

The Zips have been underdogs in all six games, with an average scoring margin of -22.8 points per game. Their ATS record stands at 2-3, and they are 1-3 against the spread on the road and 1-0 at home.

This week’s over/under line is 53.5 points, compared to an average line of 46.9 points for Akron’s games. Their over/under record is 3-2, with their games averaging 53.2 points.

Akron’s offense has struggled this season, ranking 114th in our offensive power rankings and averaging just 15.2 points per game, which places them 92nd nationally. Their third-down conversion rate is only 28.7%, and they are 118th in rushing, with just 68 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Ben Finley has thrown for 1,061 yards, with a passer rating of 74, and has seven touchdowns to six interceptions.

Akron is 10th in passing attempts, averaging 34.5 per game, and 15th in completions, with 21 per game. They are 78th in passing yards, averaging 194.2 yards per game. Adrian Norton leads the team with 373 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging 18 yards per catch.

Akron’s defense has struggled this season, allowing 38 points per game. In their recent game against Bowling Green, they gave up 27 points, including three rushing touchdowns, while allowing 389 total yards, with 268 yards coming through the air.

Opponents have averaged 196 rushing yards per game against Akron, and quarterbacks have posted a 114.3 passer rating, completing 65.9% of their throws. On average, Akron’s defense has faced 40.2 rushing attempts and 26.8 passes per game this season.

Are The Western Michigan Broncos Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?

Western Michigan enters Week 7 with a 2-3 record, facing Akron at home. They are ranked 110th in our power rankings but have a 54.9% chance of becoming bowl-eligible. The Broncos have yet to play at home this season, going 1-3 on the road.

Western Michigan’s average scoring margin is -9.2 points per game, and they are 1-3 against the spread. They’ve been favored in just one game this season, and their ATS record as the favorite is 0-1.

The over/under line for this week is 53.5 points. Western Michigan’s games have averaged 64.4 points, with an average over/under line of 55.6 points. Their over/under record is 2-2.

Western Michigan’s offense is averaging 27.6 points per game, ranking 56th in the nation, and they are 51st in our offensive power rankings heading into week 7. Their ground game has been the focal point, with 186.4 rushing yards per game on 36.6 attempts. Jaden Nixon leads the rushing attack with 484 yards, averaging 7 yards per carry, and has scored six touchdowns.

Quarterback Hayden Wolff has thrown for 907 yards, completing 69.7% of his passes with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He has a passer rating of 108. Western Michigan ranks 105th in passing yards per game and converts just 32.8% of their third-down attempts. Anthony Sambucci leads the receivers with 286 yards and two touchdowns.

Western Michigan’s defense has struggled this season, giving up an average of 36.8 points per game. In their recent matchup against Ball State, they allowed 42 points but managed to secure a win thanks to two interceptions. The defense was strong against the run, allowing just 71 rushing yards, but they gave up 329 yards and four touchdowns through the air.

Opponents have averaged 244.8 passing yards per game against Western Michigan, completing 64.7% of their passes. The defense has faced the 49th fewest passing attempts in the country but has allowed 185.4 rushing yards per game, ranking 134th nationally.