Akron vs. UAB Odds & Betting Predictions - September 14, 2025

Shakespeare coined the phrase “strange bedfellows” and that’s exactly what we have here in Week 3. I, Michael Calabrese, of my own free will am entering a gambling pact with Trent Farris Dilfer. This is 2/3 a play on a sometimes dynamic UAB offense, and 1/3 a fade of Akron that has bottomed out. The Zips haven’t scored yet in 2025, outscored 78-0 in back-to-back shutouts at the hands of Wyoming and Nebraska. There is no path to bowl eligibility for the Zips, Ben Finley can’t elevate this unit on his own, he’s regressing behind a patchwork offensive line and they’ve had no success replacing their top three wide receivers. UAB meanwhile will be healthier than they’ve been all season long on defense. And they have a laser focus for this not only being a win but a spring board. Outside of UAB’s assistant Sports Information Director, I’ve watched more Coffee With Coach epsiodes than anyone. And I Dilfer is an open book, when its falling apart in the locker room, he shares that. When they have optimism, he shares it. The message from this week, came straight from Dilfer’s mouth. “It’s a pretty desperate building” They are hungry to build on an awesome first half performance against Navy where they scored TDs on all three of their drives. Then two lightning delays messed with their rhythm and timing and they crashed out. Akron is lost defensively, and you see the gulf between these two teams in stats like EPA per play. UAB offense 14th, Akron Defense 104th. They’ll be able to open up a lead and then Akron’s dysfunctional passing attack is all that stands between us cashing this ticket. Dead last in success rate at the FBS level through the air. One nugget from Evan Abrams, our Director of Research, teams coming off back-to-back shut out losses are 3-22 SU, 7-16-2 ATS in the past 20 years.