Midweek MACtion returns on Wednesday night, as the Akron Zips travel to DeKalb to take on the Northern Illinois Huskies. It’s a game that the home team should win, but could the Zips prove the undoing of a Huskies team that hasn’t lived up to the promise shown in their win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish?
Our Akron vs. Northern Illinois prediction covers it all—from the latest betting odds to each team’s outlook for the rest of the 2024 college football season.
Akron vs. Northern Illinois Betting Preview
All Akron vs. Northern Illinois odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Northern Illinois -8 - Spread
Northern Illinois -14.5 - Moneyline
Northern Illinois -650, Akron +470 - Over/Under
45 points - Game Time
7 p.m. ET - Location
Huskie Stadium | DeKalb, IL - Predicted Weather at Kick
48 degrees, cloudy, 10 mph winds - How To Watch
CBS Sports Network
The light could be dimming on Joe Moorehead’s tenure in Akron as the Zips are once again mired in a losing season. Meanwhile, Northern Illinois has a win over a College Football Playoff team but has otherwise been just average.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
With a total of 45 points and a spread of 14.5 points, Vegas has little faith in the Akron offense, implying a final score close to 30-15 in favor of the Huskies.
Akron’s Winning Probability
CFN’s Football Playoff Meter isn’t quite as low on Akron as most, but it only gives the Zips a 26.6% chance of beating Northern Illinois on Wednesday night.
Here are the remaining win probabilities for Akron in the 2024 season:
- at Northern Illinois: 26.6%
- at Kent State: 65.7%
- vs. Toledo: 38.9%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, the Zips would end the year with a 3-9 record, including a 2-6 record in the MAC. That would be the best season under Joe Moorhead, while also giving Akron their highest win total in conference competition since 2018, potentially alleviating some pressure on their coach.
Northern Illinois’ Winning Probability
Conversely, Northern Illinois has a 73.4% chance of beating the Zips at home. Unsurprisingly, that’s the third-best winning probability they’ve had this season, coming under just behind the win over the UMass Minutemen and the season-opener against Western Illinois.
Here are the remaining win probabilities for Northern Illinois in the 2024 season:
- vs. Akron: 73.4%
- at Miami-OH: 36.4%
- vs. Central Michigan: 65.7%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, the Huskies would end the year with a 7-5 record, including a 4-4 MAC campaign. That would ensure back-to-back bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2017-2018, the end of the Rod Carey era in DeKalb.
Prediction for Akron vs. Northern Illinois
I’m always wary of large MACtion spreads in games that don’t involve truly awful teams. There are a couple of those teams this season, but I don’t think the Zips fit the billing.
Akron has played one of the most brutal schedules relative to its conference in the entire country, getting three power conference games before the MAC schedule and playing three of five conference games so far against teams tied for first.
FREE: Sign up for the College Football Network Newsletter to receive unique stories from the world of college football directly to your inbox!
Akron isn’t a powerhouse by any means, but the Zips haven’t really been blown out by any team in the MAC, at least not in the last month. The only team to beat them by more than 11 in conference play is Ohio, and the Bobcats are on a different level than Northern Illinois.
Akron’s Achilles heel has been red-zone scoring, as the offense has struggled to finish drives and the defense has allowed teams to score in that area with ease. Both are in the bottom 30 in the country. Again though, those are raw numbers, hurt by teams like Ohio State and South Carolina.
NIU’s defense has been spectacular this season, allowing just 19.3 points per game. I don’t see the Zips getting there, but I also don’t see the Huskies moving with ease on the Zips.
This will feel like a midweek Mid-American Conference game, as the favorite could struggle out of the gate before eventually pulling away. I like the under here, but I’m not sure the Huskies extend their lead enough to cover.
Take the under and perhaps sprinkle in a bet on Akron’s spread, as I think this will be a better game than people expect.
Prediction: Northern Illinois 26, Akron 16
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.