College Football

Auburn vs Akron 9/4/21 College Football Picks, Odds, Predictions

Akron Zips (0-0) vs. Auburn Tigers (0-0)
September 4, 2021 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Auburn Tigers -37 / Akron Zips +37; Over/Under: 55
(Get latest betting odds)

The Auburn Tigers meet the Akron Zips Saturday in week 1 college football action at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Akron is coming off a 1-5 season and is 1-17 under coach Tom Arth, who returns for his third year. Auburn finished 6-5 last season and makes its debut under coach Bryan Harsin.

The Akron Zips averaged 17.2 points and 281.2 yards per game last season. Akron allowed an average of 41.3 points and 459.8 yards per game last season. Zach Gibson returns at quarterback after throwing for 700 yards and four touchdowns. Teon Dollard is back at running back after leading Akron with 600 rushing yards and six touchdowns. George Qualls, Jr. and Tony Grimes, Jr. is a returning wide receiver duo that combined for nearly 300 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Bubba Arslanian returns after leading Akron with 74 tackles, Julian Richardson had three sacks and A.J. Watts had two interceptions. Akron has had zero success over the last two years, but the Zips return pretty much all of last years squad. There should be improvement with a more experienced roster, especially with a more groomed quarterback. Akron can only go up from here.

The Auburn Tigers averaged 25.1 points and 382.8 yards per game last season. Auburn allowed an average of 24.7 points and 406 yards per game last season. Bo Nix returns at quarterback after throwing for 2,400 yards and 12 touchdowns. Tank Bigsby is back after leading Auburn with 800 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Auburn lost its top-three receivers from last year but tight end John Samuel Shenker is back after nine receptions. Defensively, Zakoby McClain returns after leading Auburn with 113 tackles, Owen Pappoe had four sacks and Roger McCreary had three interceptions. Auburn is loaded roster wise this season, as it returns majority of its key players from last season and has a top-20 recruiting class coming in. Auburn will have to get adjusted to a new head coach and its never easy in the SEC West, but the Tigers have the talent to go up against anybody in college football.

The Zips are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games and 6-21 ATS in their last 27 games overall. The Tigers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games in September and 12-5 ATS in their last 17 home games. The under is 35-16 in Zips last 51 games overall. The under is 6-2 in Tigers last 8 games overall.

Auburn has a new coach that may take some time to adjust to, but Nix is a proven quarterback, Bigsby is poised for a 1,000-yard season and the Tigers have their entire offensive line intact. Auburn is also loaded with talent on defense. The Akron Zips have accomplished nothing with Arth at head coach and they don’t cover numbers either. This is likely going to be a bloodbath. There’s nothing Akron can do with Auburn on either side of the ball.

Randy Chambers's Free Pick: Auburn Tigers -37

Need More? Get Premium Picks

Randy Chambers

Randy has covered sports betting since 2014 and writes about everything from NFL to WNBA. Follow Randy Chambers on Twitter.

Related Articles

Back to top button