Central Michigan and Akron will face off in a MAC matchup on Saturday afternoon. The Zips are 1-4 for the year and in desperate need of a win. They will try to get the better of a Central Michigan team that has a winning record but is always vulnerable on the road. Here, I break down this MAC contest and give you my Central Michigan vs Akron prediction for Saturday’s game.
Our Central Michigan vs Akron Pick
- Pick: Central Michigan -7.5
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Central Michigan Chippewas vs Akron Zips
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 3:30 PM ET
- Venue: InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field, Akron, OH
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
- Central Michigan’s Ground Game: The Chippewas have demonstrated a potent rushing attack, averaging 177 yards per game. Running back Angel Flores is averaging over four yards per carry and will try to be effective in this contest as well. Their offensive line’s ability to control the line of scrimmage will be crucial against Akron’s defense.
- Akron’s Offensive Struggles: The Zips have struggled offensively, averaging only 16.4 points per game. The absence of starting quarterback Ben Finley has compounded these issues, making it challenging to sustain drives.
- Turnover Battle: Central Michigan has shown improvement in turnover creation, while Akron’s offense has been prone to mistakes. Winning the turnover battle could be decisive in this matchup.
- MACtion Update: Central Michigan is 1-0 in MAC play after beating Eastern Michigan by double-digits last week. Akron is 0-1 in the MAC after losing 45-3 at Toledo last time out.
Quarterback Play
- Central Michigan: Quarterback Joe Labas has been efficient, completing 46 of 62 passes for 560 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. The Chippewas tend to strike a balance between passing and running, but avoiding interceptions will be important for Labas and his team.
- Akron: With Ben Finley sidelined, Akron has struggled to find consistency at the quarterback position. The Zips will need a strong performance from their backup to keep pace with Central Michigan.
Betting Trends
- Central Michigan: Central Michigan is 3-2 against the spread so far this year. The Chippewas have seen three of their first five games go over their totals.
- Akron: Akron is 2-3 against the spread through their first five games. The Zips are 3-2 to the over going into this contest from Akron.
Central Michigan vs Akron Model Projection
- Score Projection: Central Michigan 28 – Akron 14
- Win Probability: Central Michigan 65%, Akron 35%
Final Thoughts
I really like the way the Central Michigan Chippewas have been playing football early in the season. They are just 2-2 on the year but their two losses came against Pitt from the ACC and Michigan of the Big Ten. They are 2-0 against teams that aren’t from the power four leagues and I expect the Chips to play well against a second straight MAC opponent. I’ll lay the points with CMU in this all-Ohio matchup.
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