It doesn’t get much uglier than this.
After losing, 52-0, as a 34.5-point underdog to Michigan State in Week 2, the Akron Zips now travel to Neyland Stadium to take on No. 15 Tennessee (2-0). The Volunteers are 47.5-point favorites against the Zips on Saturday.
Akron will be the second MAC opponent that has visited Rocky Top this season. Ball State closed as a 36.5-point ’dog to the Vols in Week 1 and never had a chance at covering in a 59-10 drubbing. Tennessee raced out to a 45-0 lead in that contest, giving chalk-eaters a relatively relaxing experience.
Week 2 was a trickier endeavor for Tennessee as the Vols traveled to Heinz Field to take on No. 23 Pitt. It took overtime, but the Vols squeezed out another cover, beating the six-point spread in a 34-27 thriller. The Volunteers came into the season with some dark-horse hype in the SEC West and they’ve delivered thus far.
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Quarterback Hendon Hooker has done nothing to dispel the notion that he’s a Heisman candidate (he’s 40/1 at BetMGM after Week 2), throwing for 546 yards and totaling six touchdowns (four passing and two rushing) through Tennessee’s first two games. Hooker has yet to throw an interception this season and sports the 21st-best QB Rating, per ESPN.
With Tennessee on a mini-roll, Hooker in good form, and Akron coming off a 52-point pasting to Michigan State, it’s no wonder this line is threatening to touch seven touchdowns. And though I forgive you for not wanting to read on because this bet has “pain” written all over it, there is a reason to consider a play on the Zips.
Akron quarterback DJ IronsAP First of all, the number is obviously inflated, and all you need to do is look back to last week for proof. Akron closed at +34.5 against Sparty and is now giving 13 more points to Tennessee. According to Collin Wilson’s Action Network Power Ratings, Michigan State and Tennessee would be a pick ’em on a neutral field, so there’s no reason this number should have jumped this much based on one outcome.
Secondly, this is a classic sandwich spot for Tennessee. After needing to come up with a clutch performance to beat Pitt on the road, the Vols now welcome another MAC school to Knoxville before heading to the Swamp to take on Florida. It would not be a shocker to see the Vols race out to an early lead and then shut things down to avoid injuries or give Florida much tape to work with ahead of their meeting.
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And lastly, even though Akron lost starting quarterback DJ Irons in Week 2, his backup Jeff Undercuffler, looked like a capable (relatively speaking, of course) replacement.
Week 3 has plenty of ugly ’dogs worth considering — like Ohio +17.5 against Iowa State, Nebraska +10.5 against Oklahoma and Texas-San Antonio +12.5 against Texas — but Akron is the ugliest of them all.
Go Zips.
