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At InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field on Saturday, the Northern Illinois Huskies (1-4) face the Akron Zips (1-4).
The Zips are underdogs, but by less than a touchdown (+5), versus the Huskies (with an over/under of 44 points).
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Game Info for Northern Illinois vs. Akron
- Game Day: Saturday, October 7, 2023
- Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN+
- Location: Akron, Ohio
- Stadium: InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field
| Favorite | Spread | Favorite Spread Odds | Underdog Spread Odds | Total | Over Total Odds | Under Total Odds | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois | -5 | -110 | -110 | 44 | -110 | -110 | -201 | +168 |
Northern Illinois Pick Insights
- Northern Illinois is 2-3-0 against the spread this season.
- Northern Illinois has not yet covered the spread as favorites of 5 points or more this season (0-1).
- Northern Illinois games with a set total have hit the over three times this season (60%).
Northern Illinois Stats & Insights
- Northern Illinois ranks 16th-worst in total offense (317.2 yards per game), but has played a little better on defense, ranking 52nd with 347.6 yards allowed per contest.
- Northern Illinois has been a bottom-25 scoring offense this year, ranking 16th-worst with 19.2 points per game. The defensive unit ranks 75th in the FBS (26 points allowed per game).
- Defensively, Northern Illinois has been a top-25 unit in terms of passing yards, ranking 16th-best by giving up only 171.4 passing yards per game. The Huskies rank 103rd on offense (195.6 passing yards per game).
- Northern Illinois is compiling 121.6 rushing yards per game on offense (107th in the FBS), and ranks 107th defensively with 176.2 rushing yards allowed per game.
- Northern Illinois ranks 74th in third-down efficiency (39.7%) on offense and 30th in third-down conversion rate allowed (33.3%) on defense this year.
- Northern Illinois ranks 103rd in college football with a -3 turnover margin after forcing 6 turnovers (76th in the FBS) while committing nine (102nd in the FBS).
Northern Illinois’ Best Players
- Rocky Lombardi has compiled 824 yards (164.8 ypg) on 72-of-132 passing with three touchdowns compared to four interceptions this season.
- Antario Brown has racked up 334 yards on 80 carries while finding paydirt one time.
- Gavin Williams has been handed the ball 28 times this year and racked up 105 yards (21 per game).
- Kacper Rutkiewicz’s 249 yards as a receiver pace the team. He’s been targeted 37 times and has totaled 19 catches and one touchdown.
- Christian Carter has put up a 130-yard season so far with two touchdowns, reeling in nine passes on 14 targets.
- Grayson Barnes has compiled eight catches for 111 yards, an average of 22.2 yards per game.
- George Gumbs paces the team with 2.5 sacks, and also has two TFL and 14 tackles.
- Northern Illinois’ top-tackler, Raishein Thomas, has 21 tackles, one TFL, and 1.5 sacks this year.
- Muhammad Jammeh leads the team with one interception, while also putting up one pass defended.
Akron Betting Insights
- Akron is 2-2-0 against the spread this season.
- In games it has played as at least 5-point underdogs this season, Akron is 2-1 against the spread.
- In Akron’s four games with a set total, one has hit the over (25%).
Akron Pick Insights
- Akron’s offense has been a bottom-25 unit in total offense this season, posting 301.4 total yards per game, which ranks 10th-worst in the FBS. On the defensive side of the ball, it ranks 27th with 314 total yards surrendered per contest.
- Akron has been sputtering offensively, ranking eighth-worst in the FBS with 17 points per game. It has been better defensively, allowing 24.4 points per contest (64th-ranked).
- Akron is putting up 199.2 passing yards per game on offense this season (100th-ranked). Meanwhile, it is giving up 218.2 passing yards per game (55th-ranked) on defense.
- While Akron’s run offense has been sputtering, ranking 17th-worst with 102.2 rushing yards per game, its defense ranks 20th-best with just 95.8 rushing yards surrendered per contest.
- Akron’s offense has been struggling on third down, ranking ninth-worst in the FBS with a 30.3% third-down conversion percentage. It has been better defensively, giving up a 34.7% third-down rate (39th-ranked).
- With eight forced turnovers (37th in the FBS) and 11 turnovers committed (121st in the FBS) this season, Akron ranks 103rd in the FBS with a turnover margin of -3.
Akron’s Best Players
- DJ Iron has thrown for 718 yards (143.6 ypg) to lead Akron, completing 66.2% of his passes and tossing three touchdown passes and three interceptions this season. He is also a playmaker on the ground, racking up 215 yards (43 ypg) on 61 carries with two touchdowns.
- Lorenzo Lingard has run for 238 yards on 44 carries so far this year while scoring one time on the ground. He’s also added 11 catches, totaling 159 yards and one touchdown in the passing game.
- Jasaiah Gathings’ 197 receiving yards (39.4 yards per game) lead the team. He has 20 receptions on 35 targets.
- Daniel George has put together a 167-yard season so far. He’s caught 18 passes on 29 targets.
- Alex Adams has racked up 165 reciving yards (33 ypg) and one touchdown this season.
- CJ Nunnally has five sacks to lead the team, and also has six TFL and 17 tackles.
- Akron’s leading tackler, Bryan McCoy, has 28 tackles and one TFL this year.
- Andrew Behm leads the team with one interception, while also recording five tackles, one TFL, and one pass defended.
