UMass is peaking and has turned their season around thanks in no-small part to opening up the year against four Power 5 conference schools. The baptism by fire has paid off with their only three straight up wins all over their last four games. They have covered 7-of-8, five by double-digits and a sixth by a touchdown.

Akron on the other hand has missed covering each of the last three by 17.5 or more, getting progressively worse each game.

The Minutemen are certainly a dichotomous spread and straight up team. This means if a team is consistently winning outright but failing to cover or losing outright and covering, we ride the spread streak. This has proven to be a way to isolate over and undervalued teams. They are 3-7 straight up, 1-4 on the road, but 8-2 against the spread including 4-1 road. Akron despite a 3-2 straight up mark at home is 1-4 where it counts, 2-8 overall.

Despite their losing mark, the Minutemen get 449 total yards per game while giving up 441. Akron gets 389 but allows 387.

Redshirt freshman Austin Whipple will likely get the start at QB for the underdogs, but remember he is a Penn State transfer and has talent.