The UMass Minutemen (0-8) will visit the Akron Zips (3-6) in a mid-week MAC matchup on Tuesday night. UMass is still searching for its first win of the season under first-year head coach Joe Harasymiak and Akron looking to stay alive in the chase for a bowl bid. Which team will get what they’re looking for tonight? Continue reading to get my UMass vs Akron prediction ahead of this contest.
Our UMass vs Akron Pick
- Pick: Akron Zips −10.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: UMass Minutemen vs Akron Zips
- Date & Time: Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: InfoCision Stadium-Summa Health Field, Akron, Ohio
- Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Key Storylines
- UMass remains without a win on the season (0-8) and is averaging 254 total yards per game while surrendering 438.6 yards and 35.9 points per contest. Their road numbers are particularly dire. The Minutemen are 0-4 on the road, averaging just 8.0 points per away game.
- Akron enters at 3-6 overall and 2-3 in MAC play. The Zips have shown signs of life, most recently earning a 24-16 road win over Buffalo. The Zips need to win their final three games in order to become bowl eligible. That might be a tough task, but they are expected to clear the first of those hurdles tonight.
- Turnover margin and takeaways play to Akron’s strengths in this matchup. They lead the conference in takeaways (14). UMass has protected the ball relatively well, but things could get worse for the Minutemen if they struggle against the opportunistic defense of Akron.
Quarterback Play
UMass quarterback AJ Hairston has completed 47.1% of his passes for 812 yards, with just three touchdowns and four interceptions on the season. He has failed to throw a touchdown pass in three of his last four games.
Akron’s Ben Finley has thrown for 1,678 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His leading receivers include Kyan Mason and Israel Polk, who together combine for nearly 740 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. As long as Finley doesn’t throw several interceptions, the Zips will be expected to win handily here.
Betting Trends
- Akron is 4-5 against the spread so far this season.
- UMass enters this game with a 2-6 record against the spread.
- UMass is 5-3 to the over so far this season.
- Akron has gone 5-4 in the over/under market through nine games.
UMass vs Akron Model Projection
Score Projection: Akron 28 – UMass 14
Win Probability: Akron 78%, UMass 22%
Final Thoughts
I am a firm believer that UMass is the worst team in FBS football this season and I don’t think it’s all that close. The Minutemen should continue to struggle to put points on the board on the road in this game, even against an Akron team with a losing record. I’ll lay the points with the Zips, who should keep their hopes of bowl eligibility alive for at least one more week with a win.
