The Akron Zips take on the Ball State Cardinals in Muncie, IN. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Ball State is favored by -1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -115. The total is set at 42.5 points.
Here’s my Akron vs. Ball State prediction and college football picks for Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Akron vs Ball State Prediction
- Akron vs. Ball State Pick: Akron +1.5
My Ball State vs. Akron best bet is on the Zips spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Akron vs Ball State Odds
| Akron Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -112 | 42.5 -110o / -110u | -105 |
| Ball State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -108 | 42.5 -110o / -110u | -115 |
- Akron vs Ball State point spread: Ball State -1.5
- Akron vs Ball State over/under: 42.5 points
- Akron vs Ball State moneyline: Akron -105, Ball State -115
Akron vs Ball State Pick, Betting Analysis
Despite sitting at 2-4 on the season, Ball State sits in a tie for third place in the MAC standings thanks to its defeat of Ohio a couple of weeks ago. However, last week provided a concerning result for the Cardinals, as they were shut out 42-0 by Western Michigan on the road.
The Zips also are coming off a disappointing loss against Miami (OH) at home, but our very own Evan Abrams has a system that is backing Akron to keep Ball State in the losing column.
The system — "Early Road Redemption" — has a 9% return on investment since its inception and a 4% ROI this season alone.
"Early Road Redemption" is a college football system that identifies value on visiting teams in the opening stretch of the season after they have underperformed against the spread in their previous outing.
The market often punishes these teams too heavily for a single early loss, creating inflated lines in the next matchup.
By narrowing the spread range between modest underdogs and double-digit spots, the system captures situations where the road team is competitive but overlooked.
These games are played in manageable weather conditions and typically fall within lower scoring totals, which reduce volatility and keep contests closer than expected.
When teams in their first eight games seek redemption on the road after a poor showing against the spread, they frequently outperform expectations, making this a profitable angle.
Pick: Akron +1.5
