Ohio State vs. Akron prediction based on an expert football model

College football returns to the Horseshoe on Saturday as Ohio State unveils its new roster and takes the first step toward its national championship hopes when it hosts Akron State on Saturday.

After three straight losses to archrival Michigan, the Buckeyes took an aggressive approach to the transfer portal and came back with a blue-chip class combined with notable returning experience.

Will Howard steps in at quarterback after setting career-highs last year at Kansas State, while former SEC rushing champion Quinshon Judkins joins a backfield already manned by TreVeyon Henderson and former Alabama and All-American safety Caleb Downs bolsters the Buckeyes' secondary.

What do the experts think about the matchup? Let's turn to the SP+ prediction model to preview Ohio State vs. Akron, as well as the latest betting information for the game.

As expected, the simulations assume that the Buckeyes will win clearly at home against the inferior Zips.

SP+ predicts that Ohio State will likely beat Akron 56-0 and win the game by a projected 55.5 points.

The model gives the Buckeyes a perfect 100 percent chance of winning this game.

SP+ is a “tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of efficiency in college football” that attempts to predict game outcomes by measuring “the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football.”

Ohio State enters the game as a 48.5-point favorite against Akron, according to odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, where the total for the game has been set at 58.5.

If you use this prediction to bet on the game, you should consider the following…

Other analysis tools also assume that Ohio State will have no problems in the season opener.

This includes the College Football Power Index, a computer prediction model that uses data points from both teams to simulate games 20,000 times and select the winners.

The model predicts Ohio State to win the game in 98.7 percent of its simulations, leaving Akron as the projected winner in the remaining 1.3 percent of simulations.

The index estimates that Ohio State is expected to be 36.2 points better than Akron in each area, but that is not enough to make up for that point difference.

When: Sat., Aug. 31
Time: 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time
TV: CBS Network

The game odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and needs help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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