If you’re a college football sicko, then you love and have been eagerly awaiting mid-week MACtion’s return. Rest assured, the wait is over, as Week 10 marks the beginning of one of the best traditions in college football. As part of the action on Tuesday night, the Ohio Bobcats will make the journey north to Akron to play the Zips. Somehow, is once again in the MAC championship picture despite almost a complete roster overhaul, sitting as the only unbeaten in conference play. The Bobs lead the league in defense, holding conference opponents under 13 points per game. That said, they’ve played the two worst offenses in the conference and none of the top-six. That won’t change this week. Akron is third-worst in the MAC in scoring.
Akron is 1-7 SU, but that lone win was not against an FBS team. The Zips have lost three of their four conference games by at least 15 points, and their foes scored at least 34 in each of those. For what it’s worth, two of those games were against teams Ohio held to 14 or fewer.
Akron is outside the top 110 in red-zone attempts and one of the least explosive teams in the country, amassing only 5.33 yards per play – which also is outside the top 100 (CFBStats). To make matters worse, their offense is led by the MAC leader in interceptions and turnover-worthy plays (PFF), which is a stark difference from a healthy Nick Poulos under center for OU. Against this Bobcats defense – a unit that has surrendered just six touchdowns in four conference games – I’m not sure where the Zips will get their scoring from to keep this game within the number, and I’m not sure how they overcome the quarterback discrepancy. I’ve missed the best number, but anything better than -14 is Ohio or pass.
Ohio vs Akron prediction: Ohio -13.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -14 (-110).
