UMass Minutemen vs. Akron Zips, Preview, Odds, Picks and Prediction for Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Use Code SSWC We have an intriguing Mid-American Conference game for Week 11 of the college football season as the UMass Minutemen will be heading to InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio, on Tuesday evening to face off against the Akron Zips in our Minutemen vs Zips prediction. The game is airing on CBSSN and these teams are playing at different levels so far this season. The Minutemen (0-8, 0-4 MAC) are coming off a 38-13 road loss against the Central Michigan Chippewas on Oct. 24. The Zips (3-6, 2-3) are coming off Oct. 25’s 24-16 road win over the Buffalo Bulls. College gridiron clarity — NCAAF picks for Massachusetts Minutemen at Akron Zips with key matchups.
Minutemen Looking to Find First Win
The UMass Minutemen are coming off a tough 38-13 road loss against the Central Michigan Chippewas last time out. They've now lost 12 straight games going back to last season and 20 straight against FBS opponents going back to 2023 when they defeated Army 21-14. The Minutemen scored 13 points on 292 total yards of offense (176 passing, 116 rushing). Quarterback AJ Hairston struggled throwing the football as he completed 21-of-51 passes for 176 yards with an interception. The offense went 4-for-17 on third downs and 1-of-4 on fourth downs throughout the game as they were unable to move the ball. The Minutemen were unable to pass as they averaged 3.5 yards per pass, but they averaged 4.5 yards per rushing attempt.
The defense was able to get going as the Minutemen allowed the Chippewas to score 38 points on 502 total yards (223 passing, 279 rushing). The defense struggled to stop the run as they allowed Central Michigan to run the ball for 5.3 yards per carry. UMass’ defense forced a fumble while Central Michigan had possession for 37:53 in the game.
Hairston is completing 47.1% of his passes for 812 yards with three touchdown passes and four picks this season. WR Jacquon Gibson leads the passing attack with 36 catches for 358 yards (9.9 ypc) and zero TDs. UMass has been performing terribly offensively as they are last in the NCAA with 11.5 points per game. Their defense is allowing 35.9 points per game, which places them in 128th place throughout college football. They also allow 438.6 yards per game to rank 124th, and they are not doing too well in terms of slowing down the passing game, with the team ranking 127th with a 68.0 completion percentage against.
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Injury Report for UMass
- Safety DD Snyder: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Cornerback Kamren Watkins-Hunter: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Offensive lineman Sullivan Weidman: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Defensive lineman Shymell Davis: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Tight end Reece Adkins: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Linebacker Timmy Hinspeter: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Cornerback Ryan Barnes: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Cornerback TJ Magee: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Offensive lineman Kyle Brown: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Defensive lineman Shambre Jackson: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Quarterback Brandon Rose: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Defensive lineman David Onuoha: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Offensive lineman Mao Glynn II: Undisclosed (OUT)
- Offensive lineman Zachary Franks: Undisclosed (OUT)
- Defensive lineman Joshua Nobles: Undisclosed (OUT)
- Defensive lineman Derrieon Craig: Undisclosed (OUT)
- Linebacker Dean Shaffer: Undisclosed (OUT)
Zips Looking to Heat Up
The Akron Zips are looking to get back on track this season as they are coming off a 24-16 road win against the Buffalo Bulls. Their offense was able to record 24 points on 325 total yards of offense (230 passing, 95 rushing) while recording 18 total first downs. Quarterback Ben Finley finished the game by completing 17-of-32 passes for 230 yards with two passing touchdowns and one interception while also rushing five times for 12 yards (2.4 yards per carry) and one rushing touchdown. The team turned the football over three times (two fumbles lost, one interception) and was able to move the football at a terrible level, going 2-for-14 on third downs.
The defense allowed 16 points on 357 total yards (266 passing, 91 rushing) and the team was 2-for-12 on third downs and failed to convert their two fourth-down attempts against the Zips. The defense was able to force five takeaways with one fumble recovery and four interceptions to make things easier on them. The Bulls were able to record 7.4 yards per pass as well as 2.7 yards per rushing attempt.
Finley is completing 51.8% of his passes for 1,678 yards with 13 TDs and seven picks this season. RB Jordan Gant is leading the rushing group as he has 141 carries for 697 yards (4.9 ypc) and three touchdowns as well as seven catches for 34 yards (4.9 ypc) with one receiving touchdown. Akron has been scoring at a terrible clip as they are 125th in the NCAA with 18.8 points per game. Their defense is allowing 29.0 points per game, which places them tied for 97th in college football. They also allow 422.8 yards per game to rank 118th, and they are doing incredibly poorly at stopping the pass as they allow 12.8 yards per completion (121st).
Injury Report for Akron
- Running back Marquese Williams: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Defensive lineman Elijah Davis: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Wide receiver Paul Davis: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Safety Daymon David: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Running back Chris Gee: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Wide receiver Alex Adams: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Defensive back Catrell White: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Offensive lineman Dayne Shor: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Long snapper Frank Miner: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Cornerback Alex Branch: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Defensive linebacker De’Javion Stepney: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Cornerback Iesa Jarmon: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Offensive lineman Javirea Moore: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Offensive lineman Allen Jones Jr: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Defensive end Israel Duncan: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Linebacker Shammond Cooper: Undisclosed (Questionable)
- Cornerback Justin Anderson: Undisclosed (Questionable)
Massachusetts Minutemen at Akron Zips Pick
Spread Pick for UMass vs. Akron Zips
- Akron Zips to cover (4 units)
There is a reason why the UMass Minutemen are winless heading into this game and they are one of the worst programs. UMass’ defense has allowed 36.0 points in their last three games and they are not getting much production offensively to offset that. The Minutemen’s passing offense has completed 51.4% of their passes with three touchdowns and seven interceptions. Akron has not been a great program itself, but is certainly in a different overall tier thus far. Go with the Akron Zips to cover the spread as the better team.
Over/Under Pick for UMass vs. Akron Zips
- UNDER (4 units)
Both teams are going to be able to get stops as these offenses are two of the lesser in the MAC, thus far. The ability to convert on third downs shows they are unable to move the chains, as the Minutemen are 34-of-121 (28.1%) on third downs, while the Zips are 36-of-126 (28.57%) on their opportunities. Both teams are also dealing with a significant amount of injuries heading into this game, and this is going to make the offenses struggle to get much of anything going. The Minutemen have scored less than seven points in three of their last five games. All in all, go with the UNDER as the better bet to hit.
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