Kent State vs. Akron prediction: MACtion odds, picks, best bet

Kent State vs. Akron Prediction: MACtion Odds, Picks, Best Bet

Kent State enters the game as a 6.5-point underdog against Akron on Tuesday night in a special Tuesday night “MACtion” matchup. Both teams have much at stake in this Northeast Ohio rivalry.

Team Situations and Stakes

Akron Zips (4-6) are ineligible for a bowl game due to academic violations but are one win away from securing their best season since 2017, when they finished 7-7 under coach Terry Bowden.
Kent State Golden Flashes (3-6) still have bowl hopes but must win all remaining games to qualify.
The winner will claim the Wagon Wheel Trophy, a symbol of this long-standing rivalry commissioned in 1946.

Game Context and Team Performance

Akron is favored by 6.5 points playing at home. Both teams are among the weaker ones in the FBS but are experiencing unexpectedly decent seasons by their recent standards.

Akron’s recent records over the last six seasons have been 0, 1, 2, 2, 2, and 4 wins respectively.
They have suffered at least 10 losses in four of the past five seasons, excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020.
This 4-6 record is a bright spot for Akron, given their academic issues and low expectations for the 2025 season.

"A 4-6 record may not seem noteworthy to most programs, but it is to the Zips, who had every excuse to just bail on 2025 entirely with no prospect of postseason play due to the academic violations."

Summary

The battle for the Wagon Wheel highlights a matchup where Akron looks to cap a surprising season despite setbacks, while Kent State fights to keep bowl hopes alive.

Author’s summary: Despite both teams struggling in recent years, this rivalry game offers Akron a chance to secure its best season since 2017 and gives Kent State a critical shot at bowl eligibility.

New York Post — 2025-11-11