Akron vs. Miami (Ohio) Pick
Will Akron be able to stay in the MAC title race when it goes on the road to face Miami (Ohio) tonight at 7:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Miami (Ohio) is favored tonight, as it is getting odds of -6.5 points against Akron. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 52 points. Akron has won four straight meetings with Miami (Ohio) and the Zips have covered the spread in three of the four victories. The public is currently putting 53 percent of the wagers on Akron on the road. Tonight’s game takes place from Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio. The contest will air live on ESPN2.
Akron is coming off a 21-20 win over Buffalo on Oct. 28 to improve to 5-4 on the season and 4-1 in the MAC. The Zips are 6-3 against the spread on the year and 5-1 ATS in their last six games. Akron has managed to win despite having an offense that averages just 22.7 points and 331.1 yards per game. Leading rusher Warren Ball is out for the season with a leg injury. Thomas Woodson has thrown for 1,742 yards and 14 touchdowns with eight interceptions. Defensively, Akron is holding opponents to just 25 points per game despite allowing 444 yards per contest.
Miami is coming off a 45-28 loss at Ohio on Halloween. The Red Hawks have lost four of their last five and are now 3-6 on the season and 2-3 in the MAC. Miami is just 2-7 against the spread this season, covering in only one of their last five. Miami is putting up just 24.1 points per game despite amassing 390.9 yards per contest. Quarterback Gus Ragland has sat out the last two games and is doubtful to play tonight due to a leg injury. Billy Bahl will fill-in. He has thrown for 820 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions this season. James Gardner is the leading receiver with 42 catches for 847 yards and nine touchdowns while Kenny Young and Alonso Smith have combined for 1,131 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, Miami is allowing 26.8 points and 365.9 yards per contest.
Akron isn’t a team that pops on paper, but the Zips are finding ways to win right now, which isn’t something Miami can say. The Zips won at Bowling Green and West Michigan in conference play and now are getting nearly seven points against a 3-win team that is down to its backup quarterback. In the MAC, QB play is important. Woodson is a QB capable of carrying his team. Bahl is not. I will take the Zips and the points.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: AKRON +6.5