MASSACHUSETTS (3 - 7) at AKRON (4 - 6) - 11/18/2014, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
MASSACHUSETTS is 2-0 against the spread versus AKRON over the last 3 seasons
AKRON is 1-1 straight up against MASSACHUSETTS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
N ILLINOIS (8 - 2) at OHIO U (5 - 5) - 11/18/2014, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
N ILLINOIS is 58-38 ATS (+16.2 Units) in road games since 1992.
N ILLINOIS is 58-38 ATS (+16.2 Units) in road lined games since 1992.
N ILLINOIS is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in road games in weeks 10 through 13 since 1992.
OHIO U is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) after playing a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
OHIO U is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) off a win against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
MASSACHUSETTS vs. AKRON
Massachusetts is 4-20 SU in its last 24 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Massachusetts's last 9 games
Akron is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Akron is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
NORTHERN ILLINOIS vs. OHIO
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Northern Illinois's last 6 games
Northern Illinois is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Ohio is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Northern Illinois
Ohio is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
NCAAF Week 13
UMass won three of last four games, covered last six; last week was first time in six weeks they scored less than 35 points. Minutemen are 3-1 as road dogs this year, with only win in five away games 40-17 (even) at Kent State. Road team won both series games, with totals of 27-36. Zips lost last four games and were favored in all four games; Akron is 0-3 as a home favorite this year- they scored 18.7 ppg in 4-game losing streak.
Underdogs covered last five Northern Illinois-Ohio games, with pick 'em game in there too; Huskies lost 38-31/28-12 in last two visits to Athens, but games were 11 years apart. NIU won last four games, scoring 35.3 ppg; they're 4-1 on road, with only loss at SEC's Arkansas. Ohio is 4-1 at home this year, losing only 31-13 to Bowling Green- Bobcats haven't played in 11 days, while Northern Illinois played last Tuesday.
Armadillosports.com
Tuesday College Football Betting Preview
By Covers.com
Massachusetts Minutemen at Akron Zips (-7, 47.5)
The Massachusetts Minutemen found an unconventional way to earn a victory last time out: relying on the running game rather than the passing attack. The Minutemen look for a similarly well-rounded effort Tuesday night as they visit an Akron Zips team that has lost four consecutive games. Massachusetts got a 400-yard passing performance from Blake Frohnapfel in last week's 24-10 win over Ball State, but scored all three of its touchdowns on the ground.
Make no mistake, however; Frohnapfel is the key to the Minutemen offense, coming into the game with a whopping 3,345 passing yards - good for fourth in the nation - and 23 touchdowns through the air. But a right leg injury may keep him out against the Zips, who were torched 55-24 by the Buffalo Bulls last week and have allowed 140 points over the course of their losing skid. It's the final home game of the season for Akron, which is 3-2 at InfoCision Stadium.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-teens with a 30 percent chance of snow and wind blowing to the northeast at 15 mph.
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Matchup of two teams going in opposite directions in the second half of the season, with the Minutemen 3-1 SU last four games after opening 0-6, while Zips enter 0-4 SU after a 4-2 start, with each of the last four losses as as favorites. Check condition of UMass star QB Blake Fronapfel and his bruised leg. If he goes, so do the Minutemen." Cover Expert Marc Lawrence.
ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS (3-7 SU, 8-2 ATS, 6-3-1 O/U): Frohnapfel's status for this week's game will likely remain undecided until right before game day after the sensational starter injured himself after a run-and-slide. Freshman backup Austin Whipple took the first-team reps at practice last week, but head coach Mark Whipple isn't ready to say who will be starting. "We're holding out hope (that Frohnapfel can play)," Whipple told reporters, "but we're not going to risk it if anything worse can happen. We'd never do anything to put him in harm's way."
ABOUT AKRON (4-6 SU, 2-8 ATS, 3-7 O/U): Being the favorite hasn't agreed with the Zips at all over the past month, as they were giving points in each of their previous four losses - including last week's loss to the Bulls, in which Buffalo racked up 536 yards of total offense and controlled the ball for more than 36 minutes. The Akron offense is led by quarterback Kyle Pohl, who has amassed just 432 yards without a touchdown in two games since returning from a head injury. Conor Hundley (463 yards, three TDs) and Jawon Chisholm (358 yards, five TDs) lead a two-pronged rush attack.
TRENDS
* Massachusetts is 6-0 ATS in its last six conference games.
* Akron is 0-6 ATS in its last six games.
* Over is 5-0-1 in the Minutemen's last six road games.
* Under is 22-7 in the Zips' last 29 games.
Northern Illinois Huskies at Ohio Bobcats (+2.5, 49)
Bowl eligibility is at stake Tuesday night as the Northern Illinois Huskies visit the Ohio Bobcats at Peden Stadium. The Huskies earned a pivotal 27-24 win over the Toledo Rockets in their final home game of the season last week, creating a three-way tie atop the MAC West standings and leaving Northern Illinois one victory shy of a potential bowl berth. To get there, they'll need to upend a Bobcats team that is rested following a much-needed bye last week.
Ohio had played well going into the break, earning home victories against Akron and Buffalo sandwiched around a loss at Western Michigan. The Bobcats were at their best against the Bulls, rolling to a 37-14 victory after racking up 389 total yards and limiting Buffalo to a paltry 134. That should serve as a sufficient warning sign for the surging Huskies, who held on to defeat the Rockets last week despite finishing with fewer than 200 yards through the air.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-20s with partly cloudy skies and wind blowing to the east at 9 mph.
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Huskies are winning games with an average 52 net YPG and control their own destiny in the MAC West. On the flip side, the Bobcats are losing the stats an average 39 net YPG and need a win tonight or next week to become bowl eligible. Look for NIU to stay in control of its fate." Covers Expert Marc Lawrence.
ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (8-2 SU, 4-6 ATS, 3-7 O/U): The Huskies were bailed out against Toledo by the heroics of Cameron Stingily, who needed 21 carries to compile 81 yards but had had a pair of second-half touchdown runs to lead NIU to victory. The senior running back has caught fire down the stretch, with eight scores in his last four games and a pair of 100-yard performances over that stretch. His surge has helped mask Drew Hare's struggles, with the sophomore QB having thrown for just 545 combined yards and two TDs over his last four games.
ABOUT OHIO (5-5 SU, 5-5 ATS, 3-7 O/U): It has been an up-and-down season for the Bobcats, who haven't had a winning or losing streak longer than two games at any point during the year. But coming off a virtuoso performance in which it forced four turnovers and controlled the football for more than 36 1/2 minutes, Ohio should pose problems for visiting Northern Illinois. Running back A.J. Ouellette racked up 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Bulls, giving him five scores over his last five games.
TRENDS
* Northern Illinois is 15-5-1 ATS in its last 21 road games.
* Ohio is 8-2-1 ATS in its last 11 games following a bye week.
* Under is 5-1 in the Huskies' last six games.
* The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
Tuesday Night MACtion
By: Craig Williams
Sportingnews.com
The MAC offers a pair of Tuesday night contests for our wagering pleasure. Thank you, MAC. Postseason destinies hang in the balance.
UMass at Akron (-7, 47.5)
The Akron Zips (4-6 SU, 2-8 ATS) will try to keep their postseason hopes alive when they host the UMass Minutemen (3-7 SU, 8-2 ATS).
The Zips need to win out in order to finish 6-6 and be eligible for a bowl bid. They're coming off a blowout loss at Buffalo (55-24), a game in which they were 3.5-point favorites. It was their fourth consecutive straight-up loss and sixth straight loss against the spread. Akron is a bankroll-busting 2-8 ATS this season, worst in the nation.
UMass hasn't been good in the win-loss column but is 8-2 ATS, which puts the Minutemen very close to the top of the ATS standings. They've covered in six consecutive contests. They've also covered in two straight meetings against Akron, last year as 7-point home dogs in a 14-13 loss, and in a 22-14 win on the road in 2012 while getting 14.5 points.
Injuries (get injury updates at donbest.com)
UMass QB Blake Frohnapfel (ankle) questionable
UMass RB J.T. Blyden (concussion) questionable
UMass LB Kassan Messiah (knee) questionable
Weather: It'll be chilly in Akron this evening, with the forecast calling for temperatures in the teens a low of 8 degrees, and snow showers before kickpff. Winds will be blowing at about 19 mph and could play a factor. Visit weather.com for an updated forecast.
Northern Illinois (-3, 47) at Ohio
Both teams have plenty of motivation, as Northern Illinois eyes the West division title, and Ohio has a chance at bowl eligibility.
The Huskies (8-2 SU, 4-6 ATS) remained atop the West with a 27-24 win over second-place Toledo last week, and still control their own destiny.
Despite their strong play overall, the Huskies have been burning bettors' money, dropping six of their last seven against the number.
The Ohio Bobcats (5-5 SU, 5-5 ATS) figure to put up a fight at home -- especially if the Huskies get caught looking ahead to their season finale against Western Michigan. The Bobcats haven't shown much consistency this year in the win column or against the spread, but they have trended to the UNDER, staying below the total in five of their last six contests.
Injuries (get injury updates at donbest.com)
Northern Illinois RB Keith Harris Jr. (undisclosed) questionable
Ohio RB Papi White (knee) questionable
Ohio OL Stephen Langenkamp (shoulder) questionable
Ohio SS Aaron Macer (undisclosed) questionable
Weather: The forecast is calling for temperatures around 10 degrees with 10 percent chance of snow. Visit weather.com for an updated forecast.
The Linemakers lean: Northern Illinois is simply the better team here and boasts the 14th-ranked rushing offense in the nation. The point spread is key here, though. Lay the 3 while you still can. In terms of the total, we expect a lower-scoring game, but the number was posted higher than we anticipated.