Akron at Northern Illinois - 2024 Matchup Preview

Wednesday, November 13th 2024 (7:00 PM EST)
Northern Illinois -14 (43.5) (-600) Open: -18.0
Northern Illinois 29 - Akron: 16 (Mid-American)

Zips (4 - 8) (6 - 6 - 0)
Coach Joe Moorhead (4 - 20)
Avg Score : 20 - 32 (17 - 37 on Road)
Record Prediction: 4 - 8 (#101)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 1) (Bad: 2)

AKR coming off BYE
Our Line: Northern Illinois -18 (SP+ NIU -14)
Projected Score: AKR: 14 - NIU: 32 (48)
NIU Win prob: 86% | Cover: 55%
AKR Travel: 381 miles, 1 hrs ahead

Huskies (8 - 5) (5 - 6 - 2)
Coach Thomas Hammock (24 - 33)
Avg Score : 25 - 19 (28 - 17 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 8 - 5 (#42)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 1) (Bad: 2)

Matchup
Schedules
AKR Players
NIU Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Akron's 2024 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/31	Akron at Ohio State	+50.5	58.5	L 6 - 52	U	Y
Sat 9/7	Akron at Rutgers	+24.5	41.5	L 17 - 49	O	N
Sat 9/14	Akron vs Colgate	-13.5	48.5	W 31 - 20	O	N
Sat 9/21	Akron at South Carolina	+25.0	42.0	L 7 - 50	O	N
Sat 9/28	Akron at Ohio	+8.5	46.0	L 10 - 30	U	N
Sat 10/5	Akron vs Bowling Green	+17.0	48.5	L 20 - 27	U	Y
Sat 10/12	Akron at Western Michigan	+9.5	48.5	L 24 - 34	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/26	Akron vs Eastern Michigan	+2.5	50.5	W 25 - 21	U	Y
Sat 11/2	Akron vs Buffalo	-1.0	49.0	L 30 - 41	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/13	Akron at Northern Illinois	+14.0	43.5	L 16 - 29	O	Y
Tue 11/19	Akron at Kent State	-10.5	49.0	W 38 - 17	O	Y
Tue 11/26	Akron vs Toledo	+9.5	50.5	W 21 - 14	U	Y

Total: Elite: 2, Good: 0, Avg 2, Bad 3, Poor 5
Played: Elite: 2, Good: 0, Avg 1, Bad 2, Poor 4
Future: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 1, Bad 1, Poor 1
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 2
Losses: Elite: 2, Good: 0, Avg: 1, Bad: 2, Poor: 2

Predictions for Akron's Schedule

Northern Illinois's 2024 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/31	Northern Illinois vs Western Illinois	-36.5	55.5	W 54 - 15	O	Y
Sat 9/7	Northern Illinois at Notre Dame	+28.5	46.5	W 16 - 14	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/21	Northern Illinois vs Buffalo	-13.0	42.5	L 20 - 23	O	N
Sat 9/28	Northern Illinois at NC State	+7.0	46.0	L 17 - 24	U	Y
Sat 10/5	Northern Illinois vs Massachusetts	-14.0	41.0	W 34 - 20	O	N
Sat 10/12	Northern Illinois at Bowling Green	+3.0	46.5	W 17 - 7	U	Y
Sat 10/19	Northern Illinois vs Toledo	-3.0	42.5	L 6 - 13	U	N
Sat 10/26	Northern Illinois at Ball State	-13.5	47.5	L 23 - 25	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/6	Northern Illinois at Western Michigan	-2.5	51.5	W 42 - 28	O	Y
Wed 11/13	Northern Illinois vs Akron	-14.0	43.5	W 29 - 16	O	N
Tue 11/19	Northern Illinois at Miami (OH)	+1.5	43.0	L 9 - 20	U	N
Sat 11/30	Northern Illinois vs Central Michigan	-16.5	41.5	W 24 - 16	U	N
Mon 12/23	Northern Illinois vs Fresno State	-2.0	41.0	W 28 - 20	O	Y

Total: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg 3, Bad 2, Poor 6
Played: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg 2, Bad 2, Poor 4
Future: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 1, Bad 0, Poor 2
Wins: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg: 1, Bad: 1, Poor: 2
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 1, Bad: 1, Poor: 2

Predictions for Northern Illinois's Schedule

Important Stats (2023)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
AKR	#129 (.04)	36% (124)	20.4	41% (86)	2.74 (123)	81	34% (121)	198	2.59 (131)	#29 (.12)	39% (37)	32	41% (53)	38% (22)	3.78 (68)	60.2	1.8	0.9
NIU	#54 (.21)	42% (62)	24.5	45% (45)	3.21 (50)	180	40% (85)	190	3.4 (102)	#36 (.14)	41% (52)	18.5	44% (84)	37% (21)	3.4 (32)	39.8	1.4	1.2

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
AKR		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
NIU		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2023

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
AKR Offense	12	20.4	16.9	36.4%	2.59	1.8	17	279	81	198	2.8	40%	58%	41%	34%	18%	.04
NIU Defense	13	18.5	17.2	40.7%	3.4	1.2	-	-	-	-	-	56%	43%	44%	37%	13%	.14

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
AKR Defense	12	32	37.3	39.2%	3.78	0.9	-	-	-	-	-	52%	47%	41%	38%	14%	.12
NIU Offense	13	24.5	27.8	42.4%	3.4	1.4	19	370	180	190	5	54%	46%	45%	40%	15%	.21

Additional Stats 2023

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Akron	12	29:33	16.7	33%	35%	6.9	60.2	1.8	0.9	5.2	1.6	1	27.6
Northern Illinois	13	31:30	18.7	42%	50%	4.5	39.8	1.4	1.2	4.1	1.7	1	27.5

Run Game Stats (2024)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
AKR Offense	12	40% (124)	41% (86)	28.8	81	2.8	12 (116)	.09 (97)	2.74 (123)	81% (16)	10% (72)	0.9 (110)
NIU Defense	13	56% (122)	44% (84)	-	-	-	-	.14 (69)	3.29 (108)	83% (118)	8% (114)	0.94 (37)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
AKR Defense	12	52% (100)	41% (53)	-	-	-	-	.11 (49)	2.91 (38)	72% (62)	10% (77)	1.09 (110)
NIU Offense	13	54% (39)	45% (45)	35.8	179.8	5	23 (46)	.21 (36)	3.21 (50)	77% (36)	9% (47)	1.08 (29)

Pass Game Stats (2024)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
AKR Offense	12	58% (14)	34% (121)	21.5	35.4	197.6	5.6	9.2	10 (120)	15 (116)	.07 (127)	1.4 (128)	35% (118)	24% (120)	.13 (122)	8% (121)	2.1 (54)
NIU Defense	13	43% (12)	37% (21)	-	-	-	-	-	-	10 (67)	.17 (18)	1.4 (14)	32% (66)	24% (9)	.29 (55)	5% (115)	2.2 (109)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
AKR Defense	12	47% (34)	38% (22)	-	-	-	-	-	-	6 (120)	.18 (19)	1.7 (102)	35% (23)	30% (63)	.31 (67)	5% (112)	2.2 (115)
NIU Offense	13	46% (95)	40% (85)	16.2	28.2	189.8	6.7	11.7	15 (96)	9 (40)	.26 (75)	1.5 (96)	32% (64)	26% (106)	.29 (83)	6% (63)	2.3 (16)

Akron's Power Ratings
Akron's Power Rating: -19.03 #121
Akron's Offense Rating: 12.44 #118
Akron's Defense Rating: 12.15 #90
2024 Talent Rating: 596.00 #75
Blue Chip Ratio: 5% #62
Akron's 2024 Expected Record: 4.0 - 8.0
Akron's 2024 Overall SP+ Rating: -17.9 #123
Akron's Offense SP+ Rating: 15.7 #129
Akron's Defense SP+ Rating: 34.6 #117

Average Talent
Average Mid-American Talent Rating is 514.62
Average Power Five Talent: 806.09
Average FBS Talent: 638.99

Power Ratings Matchup
Akron: -19.03 Northern Illinois: -0.635

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Akron: -17.9 Northern Illinois: -3.5

Northern Illinois's Power Ratings
Northern Illinois's Power Rating: -0.635 #73
Northern Illinois's Offense Rating: 16.86 #97
Northern Illinois's Defense Rating: 2.99 #11
2024 Talent Rating: 538.00 #89
Blue Chip Ratio: 0 #102
Northern Illinois's 2024 Expected Record: 8.0 - 5.0
Northern Illinois's 2024 Overall SP+ Rating: -3.5 #84
Northern Illinois's Offense SP+ Rating: 20.0 #115
Northern Illinois's Defense SP+ Rating: 21.6 #32

Average Talent
Average Mid-American Talent Rating is 514.62
Average Power Five Talent: 806.09
Average FBS Talent: 638.99

Akron Scoring
Offense: 20.4 PPG
Offense on Road: 16.9
Defense: 32 PPG
Defense on Road: 37.3

Akron's 2024 Record
Record: 4 - 8
Record vs Spread: 6 - 6 - 0
Record on Road: 1 - 6
Record vs Spread on Road: 3 - 4 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 5 - 4 - 0
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 2 - 4 - 0

Projected Score
Northern Illinois 32
Akron 14

Projected Total Points: 48

Northern Illinois Scoring
Offense: 24.5 PPG
Offense at Home: 27.8
Defense: 18.5 PPG
Defense at Home: 17.2

Northern Illinois's 2024 Record
Record: 8 - 5
Record vs Spread: 5 - 6 - 2
Record at home: 4 - 2
Record vs Spread at home: 1 - 4 - 1
Record as Fav vs Spread: 2 - 5 - 1
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 1 - 4 - 1

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Winner	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2024	11/13	Northern Illinois	29	Akron	16	Northern Illinois	Northern Illinois -14	Akron	43.5	Over
2023	10/07	Akron	14	Northern Illinois	55	Northern Illinois	Northern Illinois -4	Northern Illinois	42.5	Over
2022	11/26	Northern Illinois	12	Akron	44	Akron	Northern Illinois -9.5	Akron	51.5	Over
2019	10/26	Northern Illinois	49	Akron	0	Northern Illinois	Northern Illinois -22	Northern Illinois	42.5	Over
2018	11/01	Akron	26	Northern Illinois	36	Northern Illinois	Northern Illinois -6	Northern Illinois	37.0	Over
2013	10/12	Northern Illinois	27	Akron	20	Northern Illinois	Northern Illinois -21.5	Akron	0
2012	10/20	Akron	7	Northern Illinois	37	Northern Illinois
2010	10/02	Akron	14	Northern Illinois	50	Northern Illinois
2009	10/31	Northern Illinois	27	Akron	10	Northern Illinois
2005	09/24	Akron	48	Northern Illinois	42	Akron
2005	12/01	Northern Illinois	30	Akron	31	Akron
2004	10/02	Northern Illinois	49	Akron	19	Northern Illinois
2000	10/13	Akron	35	Northern Illinois	52	Northern Illinois

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Northern Illinois	10	3	5 Overs
Akron	3	3	0 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	6 - 7	1 - 5	1 - 3	0 - 2
Road Teams	7 - 6	5 - 1	2 - 0	3 - 1

(#121) Akron Info

Preseason ratings
Power Rating: -19.03 #121
Offense Rating: 12.44 #118
Defense Rating: 12.15 #90
Overall SP+ Rating: -17.9 #123
Offense SP+ Rating: 15.7 #129
Defense SP+ Rating: 34.6 #117
Talent Rating: 596.00 #75
Blue Chip Ratio: 5% #62
Expected Record: 4.0 - 8.0

Team Profile
Very Pass heavy Offense 59%, Run: 40%
Awful Offense Success Rate of 39%
Awful Offensive Explosiveness
Awful in Scoring Position 3.26 PPO
Avg Run Success 44%
Awful Pass Success 36%
Poor OL Grades, Poor OL Yds Per Rush
Avg DL Grades, Poor Sacks/Turnovers
Poor Defense Success Rate of 45%
Poor in Scoring Position 4.19 PPO
Avg Run Def Success 41%
Awful Pass Def Success 49%
Poor Pressure/Havoc/Forcing TOs
Bad Field Position

Akron Notes
(11/27) Won 3 of last 5, competitive team most of season
(11/18) Run game awful vs N Ill, 50 rush, 19/52 pass
(10/27) Run game great vs EMU in W, 220 yds, 7.1 ypc
(10/13) Finley great, Rgame awful, 4 TO's in L WMU
(10/4) Pass heavy Off is awful but Run game is worse
(10/4) Sched been brutal but Zips may be CFB #2 worst
(8/16) Ohio St, Rutgers and SC? Why?
(8/16) Off was dead last LY. Not much TY
(7/30) Def has some pieces, DB's need rebuild
(7/30) HC Moorhead has 4 wins in 2 yrs. Hot Seat?

Akron Ratings Matchup Northern Illinois

Power #121

#73

Off #118

#97

Def #90

#11

Talent #75

#89

SP+ #123

#84

SP+ Off #129

#115

SP+ Def #117

#32

Rematch from Week 12
Northern Illinois -14.0 (43.5)
Northern Illinois won vs Akron this year (29-16)

Previous Matchups
Northern Illinois beat Akron last year (29-16)
Northern Illinois beat Akron in 2023 (55-14)
Akron beat Northern Illinois in 2022 (44-12)

Weather Forecast
Playing in Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
Conditions: Cloudy
Temp: 47° - Wind: 12 mph

Team Information
Injuries: AKR | NIU
Depth Chart: AKR | NIU
Rosters: AKR | NIU

(#73) Northern Illinois Info

Preseason ratings
Power Rating: -0.635 #73
Offense Rating: 16.86 #97
Defense Rating: 2.99 #11
Overall SP+ Rating: -3.5 #84
Offense SP+ Rating: 20.0 #115
Defense SP+ Rating: 21.6 #32
Talent Rating: 538.00 #89
Blue Chip Ratio: 0 #102
Expected Record: 8.0 - 5.0

Team Profile
Very Run heavy Offense 59%, Pass: 41%
Bad Offense Success Rate of 42%
Bad Offensive Explosiveness
Awful in Scoring Position 3.39 PPO
Bad Run Success 44%
Bad Pass Success 40%
Avg OL Grades, Good OL Yds Per Rush
Good DL Grades, Avg Sacks/Turnovers
Great Defense Success Rate of 38%
Great in Scoring Position 3.08 PPO
Avg Run Def Success 41%
Great Pass Def Success 35%
Avg Pressure/Havoc/Forcing TOs
Good Field Position

Northern Illinois Notes
(11/8) Off healthy & improved. Rgame/QB Hampton good
(11/7) Owned WMU. Big plays, caused TO's, KR TD
(10/20) Near 400 yds and only 6 pts (Tol)? 4-19 3rd bad
(10/18) Def ranks top 25 in 13 diff stats, #4 in ypg (253)
(10/18) Great 3rd down Def 20% (#1) & Off 48% (#22)
(10/18) New QB Holst v mobile, cannot pass from pocket
(10/14) QB Hampton left BG game (concussion)
(10/13) DL mauled BGU. 5 sacks, hurt QB. Great Def
(10/4) Best Def in MAC? Off #'s awful so far, check back
(9/28) Def held NC St to 171 yds but 4 TOs killed them

Akron's OC Taylor Housewright

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Ben Finley (Tr)	211	387	55%	2581	16	9	6.7
Brayden Roggow	1	2	50%	9	0	1	4.5

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Jordan Simmons	110	664	2	6.0	73
Charles Kellom	85	358	1	4.2	43
Ben Finley (Tr)	80	51	0	0.6	33
Bobby Golden	1	14	0	14.0	14

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Bobby Golden	31	446	1	14.4	56
Ahmarian Granger	17	308	2	18.1	72
Jacob Newell	35	254	2	7.3	29
Charles Kellom	27	210	2	7.8	27

View Akron's Full Roster

Akron's DC Tim Tibesar

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Bryan McCoy	120	3	0	3	2
Paul Lewis III (Tr)	76	6	0	1	6
Darrian Lewis	72	3	0	0	6
C.J. Nunnally	55	12	6	4	0

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
C.J. Nunnally	55	12	6	4	0
Justin Anderson	42	3	1	0	0
Nathan Kapongo (Tr)	36	6	1	2	0
Bruno Dall	9	2	1	2	1

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
Devonte Nelson	33	1	0	7
Darrian Lewis	72	3	0	6
Paul Lewis III (Tr)	76	6	1	6

Northern Illinois's OC Wesley Beschorner

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Ethan Hampton	143	245	58%	1608	12	6	6.6
Josh Holst	65	111	59%	593	2	2	5.3

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Telly Johnson Jr.	103	480	4	4.7	38
Josh Holst	49	230	1	4.7	22
Jaylen Poe	36	190	3	5.3	22
Trayvon Rudolph	14	179	2	12.8	60

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Trayvon Rudolph	37	403	1	10.9	48
Cam Thompson	27	388	3	14.4	54
Grayson Barnes	31	338	4	10.9	60
Andrew McElroy (Tr)	26	264	0	10.2	42

View Northern Illinois's Full Roster

Northern Illinois's DC Nick Benedetto

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Christian Fuhrman (Tr)	61	4	0	1	1
Santana Banner	54	2	0	1	4
Skyler Gill-Howard	48	7	5	4	0
Roy Williams	38	7	7	1	1

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Roy Williams	38	7	7	1	1
Nevaeh Sanders	8	5	5	2	0
Skyler Gill-Howard	48	7	5	4	0
Raishein Thomas	12	2	2	0	1

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Jacob Finley	36	3	1	0	8
Santana Banner	54	2	0	1	4
Amariyun Knighten	13	0	0	1	2