Akron at Nebraska College Football Picks and Predictions 9/1/2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Memorial Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Akron Zips travel to Memorial Stadium to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, September 1, 2018. The opening line for this game has Nebraska as 21 point favorites. The Zips had an ATS record of 9-5-0 last season while their over/under record was 3-11-0. The Cornhuskers had an over/under record of 7-4-1 and they were 4-8-0 against the spread.

Valuable Akron Zips Betting Trends

The Akron Zips were 3-11-0 against the over/under last season

The Akron Zips were 9-5-0 against the spread last year

Important Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Trends

The Nebraska Cornhuskers were 7-4-1 against the over/under last season

The Nebraska Cornhuskers were 4-8-0 against the spread last year

Key Akron Zips Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Nebraska Cornhuskers Injuries

08/24/18 RB Tre Bryant Knee is out for season
07/25/18 LB Breon Dixon Eligibility is upgraded to probable Saturday vs Akron

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Akron Zips were 94th in Division 1 in points scored with 309 last year. They ran 906 plays last season for 4,430 yards, which ranked them 64th in the nation in total offense. The Zips averaged 4.9 yards per play, which was 114th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 258 1st downs last year, placing them 69th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Akron ran for 1,480 yards as a team, which ranked 114th in the country. They ran 459 times, averaging 3.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Zips were penalized on offense 88 times for 874 yards last season, which had them 27th in the nation in penalties. Kato Nelson threw for 989 yards last season. He completed 70 passes on 140 attempts for a completion percentage of 50%. His quarterback rating last year was 125.3. He averaged 7.1 yards per pass attempt and 7.6 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

Akron was 97th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 392 last season. They surrendered a total of 6,206 yards on D, which was 124th in Division 1. The Zips were ranked 88th in yards per play allowed with 6. Opposing offenses completed 286 passes on 461 attempts against the Akron Zips defense last season, placing them 123rd and 114th in the country. The Akron pass defense also gave up a total of 3,324 yards through the air, which was 113th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 566 attempts for 2,883 yards last year, putting them in 123rd place in D-1 against the run. The Zips committed 90 penalties for 874 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 122nd in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

Akron was ranked 128th in the nation in punt returns with 6 last year. They accumulated 13 punt return yards and averaged 2.6 yards per return, which was 127th in college football. They returned 34 kicks for 619 yards on special teams, ranking 99th in kick return yardage. The Zips averaged 18 yards per kick return and they were 113th in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,061. The Akron Zips attempted 13 field goals last season and made 6, which was 124th in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 46%. Akron Zips kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 41 for 41 last year. Their punters totaled 3,604 yards on 85 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That placed them 65th in Division 1 in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Cornhuskers ran for 1,290 yards as a team last year, which ranked 123rd in the nation. They ran 368 times, averaging 3.5 yards per rush as a unit. The Nebraska Cornhuskers were penalized on offense 76 times for 728 yards last year, which had them 66th in the country in penalties. They were 93rd in Division 1 in points scored with 310. They ran 827 plays last year for 4,620 yards, which ranked them 36th in the nation in total offense. The Cornhuskers averaged 5.6 yards per play, which was 69th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 235 1st downs last season, ranking them 98th overall as an offensive unit. Adrian Martinez is expected to start the year at QB for Nebraska. His inexperience will be a big early season story line to watch for the Huskers.

Defensive Statistics

The Nebraska Cornhuskers rush defense gave up 460 attempts for 2,600 yards last season, putting them in 111th place in the country against the run. They had 72 penalties for 638 yards on defense last year. That placed them 58th in Division 1. Nebraska was 114th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 437. They gave up a total of 5,257 yards on D, which was 87th in the nation. The Cornhuskers were 112th in yards per play allowed with 6.4. Opponent offenses completed 234 throws on 364 attempts against the Nebraska defense last season, ranking them 70th and 43rd in the country. The Nebraska Cornhuskers pass defense also surrendered a total of 2,657 yards in the air, which was 43rd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Nebraska Cornhuskers tried 14 field goals last year and made 12, which was 88th in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 86%. Cornhuskers kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 37 for 37 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,486 yards on 59 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That ranked them 57th in the NCAA in punting average. Nebraska was 84th in the country in punt returns with 16 last season. They totaled 94 punt return yards and averaged 6.2 yards per return, which was 88th in D-1. They returned 38 kicks for 859 yards on special teams, which put them 49th in kick return yardage. The Nebraska Cornhuskers averaged 23 yards per kick return and they were 91st in the nation in all-purpose yards with 5,573.

Who will win tonight's Zips/Cornhuskers college football game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Cornhuskers -21

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn