The Miami (OH) RedHawks will attempt to extend their recent dominance over the Akron Zips when the clubs meet during Wednesday night MACtion. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET from Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio. The RedHawks (7-2, 4-1) are already bowl eligible and are now in pursuit of a berth in the MAC championship game as the front-runner in the East division. They have won three straight home meetings against the Zips and are 13-3-1 all-time on their home field against Akron. But the Zips (2-7, 1-4) are hoping to play spoiler after earning their first conference victory last week.
The RedHawks are 17-point favorites and the over/under for total points scored is 38 in the latest SportsLine consensus Akron vs. Miami (OH) odds. Before making any Miami (OH) vs. Akron picks, make sure you check out the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a stunning profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Akron vs. Miami (OH) and just revealed its picks and MACtion predictions. You can visit SportsLine to see the model's CFB picks. Here are several college football odds and trends for Miami (OH) vs. Akron:
- Akron vs. Miami (OH) spread: Miami (OH) -17
- Akron vs. Miami (OH) over/under: 38
- Akron vs. Miami (OH) money line: Miami (OH) -937, Akron +593
- AKR: The Zips are 3-1 against the spread as double-digit underdogs this season.
- MIA: The RedHawks are 7-2 ATS this season.
- Akron vs. Miami (OH) picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Akron vs. Miami (OH) live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why Miami (OH) can cover
The RedHawks' defense has been solid all year, but recent performances suggest that the unit is getting even stronger as the season progresses. Miami is at or near the top of every major defensive statistical category in the MAC. For starters, the RedHawks lead the way in red-zone efficiency, allowing just 13 touchdowns on 27 trips inside the 20-yard line for their opponents.
Through five conference games, Miami ranks first in the MAC in scoring defense (12.2 ppg), total defense (265 yards per game), rush defense (94.8 ypg), sacks (19) and third down conversion rate (23.5%).
Miami also leads the MAC with 25 sacks behind what is generally considered the deepest group of edge rushers in the conference. Junior Caiden Woullard leads the MAC with seven sacks, while Brian Ugwu has notched 5.5 sacks and linebacker Ty Wise has notched four sacks. What's more, the RedHawks have six defensive players who have started at least 20 games in their careers with the program. See which team to pick here.
Why Akron can cover
The Zips head into Wednesday's game with a renewed sense of confidence following their comeback from a 17-point deficit to defeat Kent State last week.
Akron coach Joe Moorhead, who previously held the same job at Mississippi State, said the win will help set a foundation of self-belief moving forward. He said he was pleased to see the Zips prevail after coming up short in several such instances in his two years at the helm. The Zips have been on the short end of nine one-score games and two overtime contests in the past two seasons. However, as they built momentum in the fourth quarter, the coach could sense his players believed they could complete the comeback.
"You keep looking for that breakthrough moment," Moorhead told the media. "You keep swinging and swinging at the boulder. You don't know if it will be on the first swing or the 100th, but eventually you split it open. We kept fighting and found a way to win a game." See which team to pick here.
How to make Akron vs. Miami (OH) picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 50 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 50% of simulations. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Akron vs. Miami (OH), and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Illinois spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has notched a profit of well over $2,000 on its top-rated college football spread picks, and find out.
