As the 2025 college football season progresses into Week 4, the Duquesne Dukes are set to play against the Akron Zips at InfoCision Stadium. Scheduled for a 6:00 PM kickoff on Saturday, September 20th, the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Both teams are eager to secure their first win of the season in this nighttime showdown.
The Duquesne Dukes enter the contest with an 0-1 record, having suffered a significant loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers earlier this season. Despite the setback, the Dukes will be looking to improve their road performance and capitalize on Akron’s weaknesses. Currently unaffiliated with a conference, Duquesne faces a challenging road ahead.
The Akron Zips, part of the Mid-American Conference, come into the game with an 0-3 record. Their most recent encounter saw them narrowly lose to UAB, 31-28. As the Zips host the Dukes, they will aim to turn their season around and gain some momentum at their home field. The odds favor Akron, with a moneyline of -275 and a spread of -7.5.
Akron vs Duquesne At a Glance
- Game Time: Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 6:00 PM
- Location: InfoCision Stadium, Akron, OH
- TV Coverage: Available on ESPN+
- Weather Forecast: Night game conditions expected
- Akron’s Current Record: 0-3 overall, 0-1 at home
- Duquesne’s Current Record: 0-1 overall, 0-1 on the road
Akron Zips: A Closer Look at the Road Ahead
Team Overview
The Akron Zips have faced some challenges this season, standing at a ranking of 85th in points scored with 28. Their offensive capabilities have been tested, ranking 106th in passing yards and 94th in rushing yards. Despite these hurdles, their resilience is evident in their consistent performance in securing first downs, where they rank 40th.
On the defensive side, the Zips have allowed 109 points, placing them 86th in points against. Their defense has shown strength in sacking the quarterback, ranking 12th in this category. They also have a knack for intercepting passes and recovering fumbles, ranking 2nd and 4th respectively.
Recent Performances
Akron’s recent games have been tough, with a narrow 31-28 loss to UAB. Despite the loss, they managed to outperform UAB in rushing yards with 159 compared to 90. However, their passing defense struggled, allowing UAB to rack up 341 passing yards.
In an earlier encounter against Nebraska, the Zips faced a significant setback, losing 68-0. Their offense was stifled, managing only 62 passing yards and 113 rushing yards. This game highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in offensive execution.
Key Players
Quarterback Ben Finley has been a key figure for the Zips, throwing for 475 yards and 2 touchdowns over three games. His performance places him at 100th in passing yards. On the ground, running back Sean Patrick has contributed 171 rushing yards and a touchdown, ranking him 100th in rushing yards.
Wide receiver Israel Polk has emerged as a reliable target, amassing 116 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. His efforts have been vital in keeping Akron’s passing game alive. Additionally, kicker Owen Wiley has been consistent, making 2 field goals and 2 extra points.
Team Betting Trends
- O/U – Away Games: 9-1 (90.0%) in the last 10 games
- O/U – After Loss: 4-0 (100.0%) in the last 4 games
- SU – As Favorite: 7-1 (87.5%) in the last 8 games
- O/U – As Favorite: 3-0 (100.0%) in the last 3 games
- ATS – Totals ≥ 50: 3-0 (100.0%) in the last 3 games
As Akron prepares for their next game, they aim to capitalize on their strengths and address the areas needing improvement. The upcoming schedule provides opportunities to turn their season around, starting with a home game against the Duquesne Dukes.
Duquesne Dukes: Analyzing Their Away Game Prospects
Offensive Struggles
The Duquesne Dukes have faced challenges on offense this season, managing only 9 points in their opener, ranking them 96th in the nation. Their passing game has also struggled, with just 171 yards, placing them at 162nd. Additionally, their ground game has been stagnant, with only 41 rushing yards, ranking 183rd.
In comparison to last season, the Dukes’ offensive production has seen a decline. They had averaged 10 points and 236 passing yards per game last year. The drop in rushing yards from 185 to 41 is particularly concerning for their offensive unit.
Defensive Performance
On the defensive side, the Dukes allowed 61 points in their recent game against Pittsburgh, a significant setback despite their 46th rank in points allowed. The team managed just one sack, though they did secure two interceptions, ranking third in that category.
Last season, the defense conceded an average of 105 points, with a stronger performance in interceptions. However, their performance in sacks and fumbles recovered remains an area needing improvement.
Key Players
Quarterback Tyler Riddell, despite a challenging start, led with 154 passing yards and one touchdown. His performance will be crucial in any potential turnaround for the Dukes’ offense. Backup Logan Kushner had limited impact, contributing only 17 passing yards.
Running back Taj Butts led the team with 38 rushing yards, though the team will need more from their ground attack to improve offensive production. Wide receiver Joey Isabella stood out with 120 receiving yards, offering a bright spot in their passing game.
Betting Trends
- O/U – All Games: Last 5 Games (2023–2025) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – As Underdog: Last 5 Games (2023–2025) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – Away Games: Last 5 Games (2023–2025) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – After Loss: Last 5 Games (2023–2025) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – Totals ≥ 50: Last 5 Games (2023–2025) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – All Games: Last 9 Games (2021–2025) → 4-5 (44.4%)
- ATS – As Underdog: Last 9 Games (2021–2025) → 4-5 (44.4%)
- ATS – Away Games: Last 9 Games (2021–2025) → 4-5 (44.4%)
- ATS – Totals ≥ 50: Last 8 Games (2021–2025) → 3-5 (37.5%)
- ATS – After Loss: Last 7 Games (2021–2025) → 2-5 (28.6%)
- SU – After Loss: Last 7 Games (2021–2025) → 1-6 (14.3%)
- SU – All Games: Last 8 Games (2021–2025) → 1-7 (12.5%)
- SU – As Underdog: Last 8 Games (2021–2025) → 1-7 (12.5%)
- SU – Away Games: Last 8 Games (2021–2025) → 1-7 (12.5%)
- SU – Totals ≥ 50: Last 3 Games (2024–2025) → 0-3 (0.0%)
Akron vs Duquesne Prediction: Over 51.5
Both teams have struggled defensively this season, which could lead to a high-scoring game. Akron has allowed 109 points in their first three games, while Duquesne’s defense gave up 61 points in their sole game. These defensive issues point towards a potential for a shootout.
Akron’s offense has shown some ability to score, with 28 points against UAB in their latest outing. Despite Duquesne’s offensive struggles, Akron’s defensive vulnerabilities could give them opportunities to score. This is further supported by Akron’s recent trends, showing a 100% over rate as favorites in their last three games.
Given the current betting line of 51.5 points and Akron’s tendencies to go over in games following a loss, the conditions are set for another high-scoring encounter. The combination of weak defenses and Akron’s scoring capability suggests that the total points will surpass the set line.
Considering these factors, the projected final score is Akron 35, Duquesne 21, which would comfortably exceed the total of 51.5 points.
- Akron vs Duquesne Prediction: Over 51.5
- Akron vs Duquesne Score: Akron 35 – Duquesne 21
