Nebraska vs. Akron Total Pick
Will Saturday night’s 8PM ET contest between Nebraska and Akron feature a lot of big offensive plays, or be a defensive showdown?
Game Snapshot & Odds
Saturday, September 1, 2018
8PM ET – Notre Dame Stadium
TV: FOX
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Nebraska is favored to win this game, as the Cornhuskers are getting odds of -25.5 points against Akron. The over/under total for the game is listed at 55.5 points. The public betting for this game currently has 68 percent going on Nebraska at home. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our College Football Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Nebraska starts Frost era
The 2017 season saw Nebraska go 4-8, so the Cornhuskers made some changes with the coaching staff hired Scott Frost to lead the program. Frost is a former Cornhusker player and spent the last two seasons at Central Florida. He guided the Golden Knights to a perfect record in 2017. Last season, Nebraska ended up 4-8 against the spread and 7-4-1 with the over.
The Cornhuskers averaged just 25.75 points per game on offense last year and allowed 36.4 per contest. Frost is electing to go with a freshman at quarterback this year in Adrian Martinez. Luckily for Martinez, he has some strong receivers to throw to in Stanley Morgan Jr. and JD Spielman. Each have over 800 yards last year and Morgan Jr. posted 10 touchdowns catches. The team also returns leading rusher Devine Ozigbo, but he had just 493 yards in 2017.
Zips win MAC East in 2017
While Akron ended up just 7-7 for the 2017 season, the Zips went 6-2 in the MAC East and appeared in the conference championship game. Terry Bowden enters his seventh season as head coach of the team. Akron put up a 9-5 against the spread in 2017 with an 11-3 mark with the under.
The Zips allowed 28 points per game a year ago, which needs to improve. Offensively, Akron put up just 22.1 points per contest. Kato Nelson returns to lead the offense. The sophomore threw for 989 yards and eight touchdowns last year when he was forced into the starting lineup due to off-the-field issues for then-starter Thomas Woodson. Nelson has the ability to run as well, which should help a ground game that posted only 1,480 yards as a team. Helping Nelson is receiver Kwadarrius Smith, who had 34 catches for 726 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago.
College Football Betting Trends
Nebraska
Nebraska is 11-4 with the over in their last 15 non-conference games, but 5-2 with the under in their last seven games in September.
Akron
The Zips have hit the under in their last five games in September and in five of their last six against Big Ten opponents.
Prediction:
The total is set pretty low as Nebraska didn’t do much on offense last year. The Cornhuskers have some promise on the offensive end this year, but are starting a freshman quarterback. That is likely to lead to some rough play in the opening game. Akron doesn’t have much of an offense, especially when facing a power 5 defense like the Cornhuskers. I think Nebraska will break some big plays and win with ease, but I don’t think this will be a high-scoring contest.
College Football Prediction: Akron/Nebraska Under 55.5