Eastern Michigan vs Akron Odds, Picks, Predictions (11/8/22)

Eastern Michigan is visiting Akron to get MACtion started this week. Both teams are coming off byes, but also both teams lost prior to their byes too. This should be an interesting game for the pecking order of the MAC. Let’s take a look at the odds and make some picks and predictions for this game!

Eastern Michigan vs. Akron Odds

Eastern Michigan is a 7.5-point road favorite and is at -285 on the money line. The over/under is also set at 56. Eastern Michigan being this low of a favorite is a little surprising because Akron has been so bad. The odds seem like they should have been in the double digits in favor of Eastern Michigan. The over/under also seems a little high too because Eastern Michigan’s offense has been good, but not great, while Akron’s has been abysmal. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the spread move up a bit in favor of Eastern Michigan too.

Eastern Michigan vs. Akron Prediction & Pick

The Pick: Eastern Michigan -7.5

This pick isn’t necessarily all about how good Eastern Michigan is, but about how bad Akron is and has been this year. Akron, particularly their defense, has been really bad this year. The Zips are allowing 37 points and giving up 442 total yards a game. They are also allowing those yards pretty evenly through the air and on the ground. Eastern Michigan has been this year, but nothing very impressive on either side of the ball. The difference will also be on defense for the Eagles because it seems like this game could get a little ugly and will be decided by what defense gets a stop first.

The Eagles allow 30 points and 381 total yards a game which is not great and could be a good cure for an ailing Akron offense. This game has the makings of getting a little weird on a Tuesday night because these teams are very different record wise, but are more alike than you’d think, especially with how the numbers look for each team on offense and defense. Taking the Eagles to cover here is still the best bet in this game because there’s just not a lot to like on the side of the Akron Zips this year.

Eastern Michigan vs. Akron Key Matchups

Can Akron slow down Samson Evans? Can Eastern Michigan slow down DJ Irons?

Samson Evans vs the Akron Front Seven

Samson Evans has been a workhorse for Eastern Michigan this year on the ground. He has 144 carries, 722 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns on the year. The Eagles average more yards a game passing than rushing, but Evans is a major key for Eastern Michigan in this game. His best game was against ASU in Week 3 when he had 258 rushing yards and one touchdown. Akron also has a bad rushing defense and allows 186 yards a game on the ground. Evans is a big key in this game and he’s proven that he can take over a game and be the focal point on offense. If Akron has a chance here, they need to try and slow him down.

DJ Irons vs the Eastern Michigan Secondary

DJ Irons has been a do-it-all quarterback for Akron this year. He leads the team in both passing and rushing too. He has 2,515 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 67% completion percentage on the year. The most passing yards in a game he’s had this year was 418 against Ohio. Akron allows 255 passing yards a game, so DJ Irons could definitely have a field day against this defense. DJ Irons has been the biggest key for Akron’s offense this year, and has been asked to do everything, so expect a lot of him here if Akron has any shot here. If the Eagles can contain him then it’ll be a long day for the Zips.