Week 14 brings us the last round of midweek MACtion, featuring a two-game Tuesday slate. Among the matchups, the Toledo Rockets hit the road to face the Akron Zips in a showdown where pride is the only prize on the line.
Who comes out on top? Our Toledo vs. Akron prediction breaks it all down—from the latest betting odds to what’s on the line for both programs as they wrap up the 2024 college football season.
Toledo vs. Akron Betting Preview
All Toledo vs. Akron odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Toledo -6 - Spread
Toledo -9 - Moneyline
Toledo -310, Akron +250 - Over/Under
49 points - Game time
7 p.m. ET - Location
InfoCision Stadium | Akron, OH - Predicted Weather at Kick
32 degrees, rather cloudy, 8 mph winds - How to Watch
ESPN2
Tuesday marks the 23rd edition of the Toledo vs. Akron matchup, and while they haven’t met since 2021, the Rockets have been firing on all cylinders in recent years, winning the last four encounters. As a result, Toledo takes a 13-9 advantage into the Week 14 clash, and they’re a comfortable favorite as the teams prepare for their final game of the 2024 college football season.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
After losing to the Ohio Bobcats a week ago, Toledo has now lost four times this season as the favorite, but I don’t expect Akron to add to that number on Tuesday night. Yes, the Zips have upset the odds as an underdog once this season (against the Eastern Michigan Eagles), but they’re more likely to cover the spread (3-1 ATS in their last four) than win outright on Tuesday night.
Toledo’s Winning Probability
According to the CFN FPM, Toledo has a 66.4% chance of beating Akron on Tuesday night. Our metric has predicted a 6-6 record for the Rockets in the 2024 college football season, but if they beat the Zips in this Week 14 clash, Jason Candle’s team will end the year with an 8-4 record that includes a 5-3 conference campaign. The Rockets have already secured bowl eligibility.
Akron’s Winning Probability
Conversely, Akron has a 33.6% chance of upsetting Toledo on Tuesday night. Our metric had predicted a 3-9 campaign for the Zips in the 2024 college football season, and if they lose to the Rockets in Week 14 as projected, they’ll match that projection. Two of their three wins this season have come in-conference, the most for the program since the 2018 campaign.
Prediction for Toledo vs. Akron
Toledo and Akron will close out midweek MACtion for the 2024 season, wrapping up what has been, in many ways, a forgettable year for both teams. Once a consistent powerhouse atop the conference, the Rockets are set to miss the MAC Championship Game after suffering three lopsided conference losses, each by more than two touchdowns.
On the other side, Akron hasn’t shown the transformative progress hoped for under Joe Moorhead, who has been on the hot seat at various points this season. Still, the Zips are piecing together their best campaign—both overall and in MAC play—since 2018. With pride as the only remaining prize, the big questions loom: Who holds the edge? Where will the key battles be fought? And can the Zips pull off a late-season shocker?
The Zips’ path to an upset hinges on their ability to disrupt Toledo’s offense. The Rockets haven’t been their usual explosive selves, averaging just 27.8 points per game—a scoring offense that ranks 71st nationally and is their lowest output since 2019.
Wide receiver Jerjuan Newton, the MAC’s leader in receiving touchdowns, and Junior Vandeross III form a dangerous duo, providing plenty of playmaking potential. Yet, quarterback Tucker Gleason hasn’t displayed the same off-script dynamism or deep-ball precision as his predecessor, Dequan Finn.
While Toledo isn’t the offensive juggernaut of years past, their defense remains a steady force. Linebackers Jackson Barrow and Daniel Bolden have combined for 16 tackles for loss, and safety Maxen Hook continues to shine as one of the MAC’s top defenders.
That defensive edge will likely prove decisive. Akron has some offensive weapons, with wide receiver Adrian Norton leading the charge, but they lack the firepower to consistently challenge Toledo’s defense. Even with defensive playmakers like CJ McNunnally and the DB tandem of Devonte Golden-Nelson and Darrian Lewis potentially frustrating the Rockets, it feels like they’ll only manage to delay the inevitable.
Prediction: Toledo 30, Akron 23
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