FBS college football has two sides. On one end, you have the powerhouses like Ohio State and Georgia dominating headlines. But on the other end lies a very different story—where teams like the winless Kent State Golden Flashes face off against the struggling Akron Zips.
At 2-8, the Zips come in as heavy favorites. While bettors might focus on the spread, Joe Moorhead’s squad is just looking for a way to come out on top. Despite the rough records for both teams, College Football Network has your Akron vs. Kent State prediction covered.
Akron vs. Kent State Betting Preview
All Akron vs. Kent State odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Akron -6 - Spread
Akron -10 - Moneyline
Akron -395, Kent State +310 - Over/Under
49.5 points - Game Time
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m. ET - Location
Dix Stadium | Kent, Ohio - Predicted Weather at Kick
57 degrees, cloudy, 7 mph winds - How To Watch
CBS Sports Network
On paper, this is one of the worst FBS matchups of the year, as 2-8 Akron goes on the road to face 0-10 Kent State. The Golden Flashes are in the midst of a 19-game losing streak and haven’t beaten an FBS team since 2022.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The spread here is indicative of Kent State’s failures more than Akron’s strength, as the Zips are 10-point favorites despite winning just one game by such a margin in the past two years. With a total of 49 points, Vegas expects the score to be close to 30-20 in favor of the Zips.
Akron’s Winning Probability
CFN’s FPM can sometimes struggle to handicap games between two struggling programs, and that might be the case here. The Zips have a 65.7% chance to beat the Golden Flashes, representing their best-remaining chance at a win.
- at Kent State: 65.7%
- vs. Toledo: 39.3%
Kent State’s Winning Probability
Kent State desperately wants to avoid a winless season, but it will be difficult. FPM gives the Golden Flashes a 54% chance to lose both of their remaining games, with a 34.3% chance to win on Tuesday.
- vs. Akron: 34.3%
- at Buffalo: 16.7%
Prediction for Akron vs. Kent State
The key storyline here is whether Joe Moorhead can craft a game plan to exploit the FBS’s worst defense.
If he can, Akron should cruise to victory.
That said, it’s hard to overstate how outmatched Kent State has been all season—on both sides of the ball. The Golden Flashes have kept just two games within 20 points, including a six-point loss to 4-6 FCS St. Francis (PA).
It’s not for lack of effort, though.
Kent State has shuffled through three starting quarterbacks this season, yet still ranks dead last (131st) in scoring offense. If they’re going to pull off a win, it’ll hinge on getting the ball to receivers Chrishon McCray and Luke Floriea—something that’s been easier said than done.
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But even though the offense has been horrible in recent weeks, it’s the other side of the ball where Akron’s best advantages lie.
While Kent State’s offense has been abysmal, their defense is where Akron has the biggest edge.
Yes, the Zips have struggled offensively, but their tough schedule deserves some of the blame. They’ve put up 20 points in four of six conference games and may have found some stability at quarterback.
Akron isn’t a statistical powerhouse, but they’ve shown enough firepower to capitalize on Kent State’s defensive shortcomings.
The real question is whether Kent State can rise to Akron’s level, knowing this is likely their best chance to notch a win before a tough Buffalo team comes to town next week.
It’s possible the Golden Flashes outperform expectations here. The problem? Their offense simply isn’t consistent enough to deliver a win outright.
Ten points is a hefty spread for an Akron team that hasn’t won an FBS game by double digits since 2022. If you’re up for it, take Kent State against the spread and lean toward the under with these two struggling offenses.
Prediction: Akron 23, Kent State 17
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