Akron Zips vs UAB Blazers Prediction and Picks - September 13, 2025
Use Code WWWC Saturday night college football action, and we have an Akron vs UAB prediction ready to rock and roll. The Zips enter this game at 0-2 on the year, and they have been outscored 78-0 in the two games. UAB Enters off a 38-24 road loss to Army, which dropped them to 1-1 on the season. These teams last met in 2019, and UAB won that game 31-20 on the road. Read on to see our Akron Zips vs UAB Blazers Prediction.
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Zips Have Yet To Score This Year
Akron enters Week 3 in full rebuild mode after back-to-back shutout losses to Wyoming and Nebraska. The Zips were outscored 78–0 across those games and managed just 175 total yards against the Cornhuskers. QB BJ Finley has struggled to find rhythm, completing just 39% of his passes for 62 yards last week, while the run game—led by Lorenzo Lingard and Jordan Gant—has averaged a modest 3.1 yards per carry. Akron’s offensive line has allowed consistent pressure, and the team is just 1-of-27 on third down through two games.
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Despite the bleak start, Akron has a few bright spots. RB Lorenzo Lingard showed burst with a 25-yard run against Nebraska, and WRs Daniel George and Jasaiah Gathings have flashed separation ability when given time. The Zips are likely to lean on short passes and tempo to mitigate UAB’s pass rush. Head coach Joe Moorhead has emphasized ball control and field position, and this matchup offers a more manageable defensive front than what they faced in Lincoln.
Defensively, Akron has been overwhelmed but not entirely broken. They held Wyoming to just 10 points in the opener and showed flashes of gap discipline before Nebraska’s tempo wore them down. LB Bubba Arslanian remains the anchor, and the secondary has held opponents to under 200 passing yards in both games. The key will be forcing UAB into long drives and capitalizing on any turnover opportunities. If Akron can avoid early deficits and play a field-position game, they’ll have a chance to stay competitive.
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Blazers Look To Bounce Back After Loss To Navy
UAB comes off a 38–24 loss to Navy in which they were shut out in the second half and committed three turnovers. QB Jalen Kitna threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns but also tossed two costly interceptions that flipped the momentum. WR Iverson Hooks and Corri Milliner combined for 172 yards and two scores, and the Blazers showed real vertical threat early. However, the run game stalled—just 92 yards on 27 carries—and the offensive line struggled to adjust to Navy’s blitz packages.
Kitna has the arm talent to stretch Akron’s secondary, and UAB’s tempo should create mismatches. The Blazers have averaged 6.9 yards per play through two games and have converted 6-of-13 third downs. If they can clean up the turnovers and get RB Jermaine Jackson going early, this offense has the balance to control the game. Expect UAB to test Akron deep early, then shift to a more conservative script if they build a lead.
Defensively, UAB has been inconsistent. They allowed 302 rushing yards to Navy and failed to generate a single sack or turnover. LB Preston Royster and DL Eric Odinjor lead a unit that’s aggressive but vulnerable to misdirection and tempo. Against Akron’s short passing game, UAB will need to tighten up coverage and avoid giving up easy yards after the catch. If they can force Finley into third-and-long and collapse the pocket, the Blazers should be able to control the pace and field position.
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Akron Zips vs UAB Blazers Pick
Zips vs Blazers Spread Pick
UAB laying 11 against Akron feels justified given the sheer gap in offensive competency and defensive resistance. The Blazers are averaging 466.5 yards per game and have scored 38+ in both outings, while Akron has yet to find the end zone this season and ranks bottom-five nationally in total offense. Jalen Kitna has shown he can push the ball vertically, and with weapons like Corri Milliner and Iverson Hooks stretching the field, UAB should have no trouble exploiting a Zips defense that just surrendered 494 passing yards to Nebraska. If Jevon Jackson gets going early on the ground, the Blazers can control tempo and build a multi-score cushion by halftime.
Defensively, UAB has struggled against the run but won’t face much resistance here. Akron is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry and has converted only 1-of-27 third downs through two games. The Zips’ offensive line has been overwhelmed, and QB Ben Finley has completed just 39% of his passes with no touchdowns. UAB’s front seven should feast, and if they force early three-and-outs, Kitna will get plenty of short fields to work with. Akron has lost 15 straight road games in September, and this matchup sets up as another lopsided result. UAB has the firepower to cover comfortably.
- UAB Blazers -11 (5 Units)
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Zips vs Blazers Over/Under Pick
That Over 57 call has legs—especially with UAB’s defense ranking bottom-10 nationally in points allowed (40.0 PPG) and giving up 248.5 rushing yards per game. Akron’s offense has been dormant, but this is their best shot at breaking through. Ben Finley has struggled, but RB Sean Patrick averaged 5.3 yards per carry against Nebraska, and UAB’s front just surrendered 295 rushing yards to Navy. If Akron can avoid early turnovers and sustain a few drives, they’re capable of putting up 10–17 points—and that’s all it takes to push this total north.
On the other side, UAB’s offense is built to score. Jalen Kitna has thrown for 568 yards and four touchdowns through two games, and the Blazers are averaging 38.0 points per game behind a top-25 passing attack. WRs Corri Milliner and Iverson Hooks are matchup nightmares for Akron’s secondary, which ranks 135th in passing yards allowed (377.0 YPG). With both defenses struggling to get off the field and UAB capable of scoring in bunches, this game profiles as a 41–20 type shootout that clears the number with room to spare.
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- Over 57 (5 Units)
