HEROSPORTS
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
HEROSPORTS
No Result
View All Result

Akron Football Preview: Odds, Schedule, & Prediction

Colton Pool by Colton Pool
August 17, 2023
Akron quarterback DJ Irons

AP Photo/Wade Payne

Akron hasn’t enjoyed a winning season since 2015 and hasn’t won a MAC Championship since 2005.

The Zips are hopeful the long-term direction of the program will change under head coach Joe Moorhead going into his second season with Akron. But in the short term, the Zips will need to make several improvements.


New Customer Offers at BetMGM

New Customer Offer: Bonus Bets

Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms


Akron Football’s MAC Title Odds

Akron’s odds to win the MAC are +3500, via BetMGM.

Akron Football’s Over/Under Win Total

Akron’s win total Over/Under is 4, with Under 4 at +115 and Over 4 at -135.

🔸#CFB G5 Spotlight🔸@ZipsFB wide receiver Alex Adams (@alexadams_uno)

-2023 jr
-6-1, 190 lbs
-All-MAC 1st team in 2022
-4th in MAC with 850 receiving yards, 6th with 63 catches and tied for 3rd with 9 receiving TDspic.twitter.com/x8r7RotVBg

— HERO Sports (@HERO_SportsCFB) April 14, 2023

Akron Football’s Schedule

9/2 at Temple

9/9 vs Morgan State

9/16 at Kentucky

9/23 at Indiana

9/30 vs Buffalo

10/7 vs Northern Illinois

10/14 at Central Michigan

10/21 at Bowling Green

11/1 vs Kent State

11/8 at Miami (Ohio)

11/14 at Eastern Michigan

11/24 vs Ohio

Bold indicates MAC contests.

Key Akron Football Returners

2022 All-MAC 1st Team

WR Alex Adams

3rd Team

QB D.J. Irons

Alex Adams-D.J. Irons Combo To Fuel Akron Offense

For whatever other flaws the roster may have, Akron is strong at two of the most important positions in football.

D.J. Irons is one of the better quarterbacks in the conference, throwing for 2,609 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions on a 67% completion rate last season. He rushed for 314 yards and four touchdowns as well.

Irons, a senior in 2023, should only make more strides going into his second full season as Akron’s starter. His rushing abilities also give the Zips’ offense an important extra dimension.

Akron junior Alex Adams was also a top-three wide receiver in the MAC last season. The former LSU transfer was top six in the league for touchdown receptions (11), receiving yards (850), and catches (63).

TOUCHDOWN ZIPS!
DJ Irons 👉 Konata Mumpfield…. Zips Lead Ohio State 7-0…

Highlights courtesy of B1G Network
📺 https://t.co/wgBbzJwslf
💻 https://t.co/evkGYr4xyC
🎙 https://t.co/0UrBR1GpTm pic.twitter.com/MMdsBqs7cR

— Akron Football (@ZipsFB) September 26, 2021

That combo gives Akron a sense of stability. The rest of the offense is in flux.

The Zips’ leading rusher in 2022, Cam Wiley, is gone and Irons was second on the team in rushing. They will have to figure out who will be their lead running back but do have a few options, including Florida transfer Lorenzo Lingard.

The offensive line does bring back some experienced players, like 6-foot-6, 300-pound junior offensive tackle Nate Williams. But the Zips will need to find the right combo up front if they want to improve on their offensive production. They were 10th in the MAC in points scored (21.8 per game), seventh in yards gained (372.9 per game), and last in rushing yards (89.6 per game) while also allowing the most sacks (56).

Nate Thompson Sets Tone For Akron Defense

The Zips don’t return any all-conference players on defense, but there are some bright spots on that side of the ball.

Former Akron linebacker Bubba Arslanian, who was third in the MAC and top 10 in the country with 132 tackles, decided to move on from the team this offseason. The team’s second-leading tackler, Nate Thompson, is back though.

All-MAC linebacker Bubba Arslanian says he won’t be returning to Akron and is “pursuing a career at the professional level.”

He was 3rd in the MAC and 10th in the country with 132 tackles in 2022. He made 374 tackles in his career. https://t.co/ZGRExOSJhv

— Colton Pool (@CPoolReporter) June 14, 2023

Thompson, a redshirt senior defensive back, totaled 73 tackles and two tackles for loss in 2022. And seven of Akron’s top 10 tacklers from last year return for 2023.

The Zips lost defensive lineman Victor Jones, who led the team with 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, so they will need to find other ways to rush the passer and disrupt backfields. But they do return cornerback Tyson Durant, who paced Akron with three interceptions a year ago.

Overall, the Zips will need to make some significant strides in defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar’s second year with the team. They were ninth in the MAC in total defense (406.2 yards allowed per game) and last in scoring defense (33.5 points per game).

Akron Football Season Prediction

The Zips won’t win a conference title, and it’s unlikely they finish with four or more wins.

Whether the Zips can get to four victories might depend on their 2023 opener. They kick off the season at Temple, which isn’t expected to have a winning season either. If Akron can win that first contest and then take care of Morgan State at home while likely losing to Kentucky and Indiana, going into the MAC portion of the schedule at .500 wouldn’t be a terrible place to be.

The Zips would be capable of defeating Kent State at home, but other winnable matchups like Bowling Green and Central Michigan are on the road.

Akron may end up being fun to watch because of D.J. Irons and Alex Adams, but this team doesn’t appear to be ready for success in the immediate future.

split-fbo-6-23-25
Previous Post

New Mexico State Football Preview: Odds, Schedule, & Prediction

Next Post

Toledo Football Preview: Odds, Schedule, & Prediction

Next Post
Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn

Toledo Football Preview: Odds, Schedule, & Prediction

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • 2025 ULM Football Preview: Prediction, Betting Odds & Schedule
  • College Football Analysis: Mountain West WRs Who Could Steal The Spotlight In 2025
  • CFB Analysis: Who Will Win the Mountain West’s 2025 Rushing Title?

HERO Sports is the go-to website for FBS and FCS football news, analysis, and predictions.

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US)
877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY)
1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)

For new customer offers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. One New Customer Offer only. Add'l terms. For existing customers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. Add'l terms.

21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Welcome Offer Bet $10, $150 in Bonus Bets

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (AVAILABLE IN THE US). 21+ ONLY. CO, MI, NJ, PA, WV ONLY. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. SEE BETMGM.COM FOR TERMS. THIS PROMOTIONAL OFFER IS FOR NEW PLAYERS ONLY. SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. BONUS BETS ARE NON-WITHDRAWABLE. US PROMOTIONAL OFFERS NOT AVAILABLE IN MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW YORK, ONTARIO AND PUERTO RICO.

  • About HERO Sports
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.