Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Akron Zips Picks and Predictions September 6th 2025

Nebraska vs Akron Picks and Predictions

After securing a gritty road win over Cincinnati in Kansas City, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are back where they belong—under the lights at Memorial Stadium. They’ll host the Akron Zips on Saturday, in what should be a fan-filled return to Lincoln.

Nebraska owns the longest home sellout streak in college football, now at 403 games. And head coach Matt Rhule knows exactly how special that atmosphere can be.

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“I don’t know if there’s anything better that I’ve been a part of in my life than a night game at Memorial Stadium,” he said this week. The Cornhuskers are eager to give their home crowd something to cheer for.

How They Enter Week 2

Nebraska comes in 1-0 after outlasting Cincinnati 20-17 at Arrowhead Stadium. Quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 33 of 42 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Emmett Johnson rushed for 108 yards. The Cornhuskers’ offensive rhythm looked sharp, especially for an opener away from home.

However, Rhule wasn’t thrilled with the defensive effort—his team allowed over 200 rushing yards. That would usually spell disaster, but Nebraska managed to snap a 12-game losing streak when giving up 200+ on the ground.

On the other sideline, Akron stumbled out of the gate with a 10-0 home loss to Wyoming. Their offense was nearly silent, gaining just 228 total yards. Veteran quarterback Ben Finley, now on his third program, struggled to find rhythm—finishing 16 of 38 with 139 yards and one interception.

Akron coach Joe Moorhead acknowledged the slow start, but backed his senior QB: “He and I share the same thought process. He’ll look at it and say there’s a bunch of things that need to be better.”

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Team Snapshot

What to Watch

The Huskers are fired up to return home. With Dylan Raiola in control, the offense looks balanced and productive. Emmett Johnson gives them a steady backfield presence, and if the defense plays faster—as Rhule wants—Akron could be in for a long night.

Akron’s Road Test

The Zips have lost 11 straight against power-conference opponents. They’ll need a significantly better outing from Finley and some creative play-calling from Moorhead to stay competitive. Even small progress, such as generating chunk plays and extending drives, would be a win after last week’s shutout.

Final Pick and Prediction

Nebraska is a heavy favorite for good reason. While Akron might tighten things up defensively, it’s hard to imagine the Zips keeping up on the scoreboard. Expect the Cornhuskers to feed off the crowd and open things up in the second half.

Picks Table

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