Tuesday MACtion Picks & Predictions – Kent State vs Akron

• Tuesday MACtion proceeds with an Ohio battle on November 11th
• Akron looks for its third win in a row, facing a struggling Kent State team
• Continue reading for my Kent State vs Akron prediction and picks as well as the updated betting line

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The Kent State Golden Flashes (3-6, 2-3 in the MAC) and Akron Zips (4-6, 3-3 in the MAC) duel in a conference showdown on Tuesday night. InfoCision Stadium in Akron plays host to a 7:30 PM ET kickoff on Nov. 11. The broadcast will be on ESPNU.

I have locked in my prediction for Kent State vs Akron and provided my pick for the Tuesday night content. I have also given the updated betting lines for this rivalry showdown.

Kent State vs Akron Prediction

• Akron 31, Kent State 24

Admittedly, 3-6 is a rough campaign for any team, but given that the Golden Flashes went 1-23 in the last two seasons, Mark Carney has his team relatively rolling. After a 1-4 start, the Golden Flashes have split their last four games. They clobbered UMass, got clobbered by Toledo, won a close game over Bowling Green, and lost a close game to Ball State. One troubling note is that Kent State has not won a road game since Nov. 26, 2022.

Quarterback Dru DeShields has been a solid option for Kent State. He leads the conference in yards per completion, and he has an impressive 13 touchdowns to just two interceptions. While he is not exactly a dynamic runner, his two rushing touchdowns lead the team.

Kent State’s rushing attack is among the worst in the country. They average just 87.8 yards per game with a 2.6 yards per carry mark. Both of these marks are in the bottom 10 in the country. All told, the Golden Flashes run the fewest plays in the country per game (58.1) and are among the worst in yards per game and yards per play.

The wide receiver trio of Cade Wolford, DaShawn Martin, and Wayne Harris have been a bright spot. Wolford is a big play waiting to happen, averaging over 25 yards per catch with six touchdowns. Martin is second to Wolford in yards and second to Harris in catches.

Cade Wolford with a the diving touchdown!#GoFlashes⚡️ | #HAB1TS | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/KyaKvqOvI4

— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) September 6, 2025

Defensively, watch for playmaker CJ Young. He leads the team in solo tackles and total tackles. He has 6.0 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, a pick, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble.

Akron has matched its win total from last season with two games to spare. One more win and the Zips will have their most since 2017. They also have a chance to secure their first .500 record in conference since 2017 with a win over Kent State or Bowling Green.

Ben Finley has been on a heater of late, scoring three touchdowns in three straight games. He now leads the MAC with 15 passing touchdowns. His accuracy can be spotty at times (52.3% completion rate with seven picks), but he is a solid passer.

If any Zip is worthy of the star title, it is Jordan Gant. Gant leads the conference with 850 yards, and he has a healthy five touchdowns on the season. He leads the conference in rush attempts, too, but his 5.0 yards per rush is nothing to sneeze at.

Finley has spread the ball around all season. Four different Zips have at least 20 catches, while no one has 30. Kyan Mason (418 yards, five touchdowns) and Israel Polk (373 yards, six touchdowns) lead the team in overall production, but Marcel Williams (361 yards) is a half-tick behind.

Ben Finley finds Israel Polk for the second @ZipsFB TD of the night.

They lead 14-0. pic.twitter.com/aOavVvGFzl

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) November 5, 2025

On defense, watch for junior Julien Laventure. The defensive lineman has a tackle for loss in four of the last five games, giving him an even 10.0 on the season. He also has 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Kent State vs Akron Pick

• Over 46.5

Ryan Potts

Sports Betting Dime • November 10, 2025 at 9:49pm

Pick

Odds

Over +46.5

Over/Under

CFB • Kent State Golden Flashes @ Akron Zips

-110 on FanDuel

SCHEDULED • 11/12/2025

See all 1 picks

Betslip #1762811345944-ab1f-705

Aligning with my Kent State vs Akron prediction, here is my justification for picking Over 46.5:

• While Akron is not some juggernaut offensively, they have been much better in recent weeks. Their 21.3 points per game average is sunk by a pair of shutouts out of conference. They average over 26 points per game in their last eight games. Finley and Gant should be the catalyst for at least 24 points versus Kent State’s 127th-ranked scoring defense.
• Kent State is even more offensively challenged than Akron, but remember, they scored eight points per game versus Texas Tech, Florida State, and Oklahoma. The Zips are far from a premier defense, ranking 89th in scoring defense. In MAC play, Kent State averages a much more respectable 23.4 points per game.
• History is on the side of the over. At least 47 points have been scored in four of the last five matchups. I see a game that ends up in the low-to-mid 50s.

Kent State vs Akron Betting Market

The sportsbooks have Akron as solid home favorites for MACtion. The total is set between 46.5 and 47.5 points. Over bettors can get over 46.5 at FanDuel for -110 odds. Under bettors can get under 47.5 on DraftKings for -115 odds.

Akron bettors can get the Zips -4.5 on the spread at BetRivers (-113 odds) or -195 on the moneyline, also at BetRivers. Kent State bettors can get the Golden Flashes at +5.5 on the spread at BetMGM (-110 odds) or +183 on the moneyline at Underdog.

Kent State vs Akron, Last Five Matchups

Akron holds the lifetime edge in this series, 37-28-2. Akron has won the last two in a rivalry that has featured some extended dominance on both sides. Since 2015, both teams have posted four-game winning streaks over one another. The rivalry opened with an 11-0-1 start for Akron, followed by an 11-0-1 run by Kent State.

Last season, Akron won in a blowout, sending Kent State to their 11th of 12 losses on the season. Akron went on a 38-3 run during the game off the strength of two Tahj Bullock rushing touchdowns and three field goals. On the Kent State side, quarterback Tommy Ulatowski threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns.

The Ohio schools battle for the Wagon Wheel. Despite losing the overall rivalry, Kent State has a one-game advantage since the introduction of the Wagon Wheel in 1946.