Akron vs. Northern Illinois Prediction, Picks & Odds: Week 12

Our Akron vs. Northern Illinois prediction leans into a massive advantage for the Huskies on the ground based on season trends.

Brenden Schaeffer

Last updated: November 12, 2024 4:38 PM EST • 4 min read

Northern Illinois quarterback Ethan Hampton throws a pass against NC State. We're backing the Huskies in our Akron vs. Northern Illinois prediction. — Northern Illinois quarterback Ethan Hampton throws a pass against NC State. Photo by Zachary Taft via Imagn Images.

Northern Illinois’ season has lost some luster following its win over Notre Dame, but Wednesday should bring a chance to shine in midweek MACtion.

Despite NIU sliding down the MAC Championship odds, our Akron vs. Northern Illinois prediction sees the Huskies rolling over the Zips behind the strength of their rushing attack.

In one of the first games of our Week 12 college football predictions, Northern Illinois is a 15-point favorite against Akron at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Ill. at 7 p.m. ET (CBSSN) on Wednesday.

Best Akron vs. Northern Illinois picks

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

Against the spread pick: Northern Illinois -15 (-110 via bet365) vs. Akron ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My best bet: Telly Johnson Jr. anytime touchdown scorer (-150 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Akron vs. Northern Illinois against the spread prediction: Week 12

Northern Illinois to cover the spread: -15 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Akron vs. Northern Illinois opening odds:

Akron: +16.5 (-110)
Northern Illinois: -16.5 (-110)

This year’s Northern Illinois team is known most prominently for something it did on the road - upsetting Notre Dame - but its performance for bettors in home games has been less impressive (1-2-1 ATS).

Movable object, meet stoppable force?

Akron, however, is simply one of the worst teams in the country, ranking 125th in FPI. The Zips are 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS on the road this season, and they've lost by an average margin of 30.2 points.

We see the Huskies with a stylistic advantage on the ground as NIU ranks 18th in the nation in rushing yards per game (199.1). That’s a sore spot for an Akron defense that ranks 113th nationally in rushing yards allowed per game.

With the spread moving in our favor from its 16.5-point opening line, we’re looking to play Northern Illinois -15 at bet365, which compares favorably to the -15.5 line at our other best sports betting sites.

Best odds: -110 via bet365 | Implied probability: 52.38%

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Akron vs. Northern Illinois best bet

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Telly Johnson Jr. anytime touchdown (-150) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Leaning into NIU’s advantage on the ground, we want to back Northern Illinois running backs. The problem is a limited props market amid a split backfield that got even murkier in NIU’s most recent game.

When Antario Brown went down with an injury last week against Western Michigan after 51 yards on four carries, freshman Telly Johnson Jr. ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns. There’s reportedly a “good chance” that Brown returns for Akron, but it’s fair to wonder about his workload.

NIU also has Gavin Williams, who saw heavy rushing volume earlier in the season. But with Williams having displayed an inability to find the end zone (three TDs all year), we don’t love his -150 anytime touchdown scorer odds at bet365.

Johnson is a more attractive option after he found the end zone twice last week in his first real collegiate opportunity. While Brown could return to muddy the waters, his -250 TD odds have us steering our attention toward Johnson, the intriguing freshman.

Best odds: -150 via bet365 | Implied probability: 60%

Akron vs. Northern Illinois odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

Akron vs. Northern Illinois game info

When: Wednesday, Nov. 13
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Huskie Stadium (DeKalb, Ill.)
How to watch: CBSSN
Weather: 48 degrees, 60% chance of precipitation, wind 12 mph NW
Favorite: Northern Illinois -15 (-110 via bet365)

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Written By:
Brenden Schaeffer

Brenden has covered the St. Louis Cardinals as a credentialed baseball writer for KMOV-TV since 2016. His sports writing has appeared in outlets including the Austin American-Statesman and Columbia Daily Tribune. Since 2021, Brenden has co-hosted 'The Big Show' during the afternoon drive for KTGR, the ESPN radio affiliate in Columbia, MO. He has appeared on radio stations around the country, including KMOX, and hosts a daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast. In the sports betting content space, Brenden has covered the NFL, college football, NBA, and college basketball for outlets including SBR since 2019. For his football handicapping, Brenden looks to target NFL player prop markets as well as sharp underdog lines in college football. Brenden looks to reference FanDuel for his sports betting articles because of its consistently competitive odds on parlays. FanDuel's boost offerings are also customer-friendly, and its odds on the NFL Same Game Parlay articles he's written for SBR have historically been consistently competitive compared to other books.