Ohio Bobcats vs Akron Zips Prediction, Odds and Preview - 10/02/2021

Game Time: 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, October 2, 2021

Venue:  InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field, Akron, OH

Where to Watch:  ESPN3

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Ohio -10, Akron +10; Over/Under:  54.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Ohio -10, Akron +10; Over/Under:  54.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Ohio -9.5, Akron +9.5; Over/Under:  54.5 points

 

Ohio Bobcats:  0-4 (6th place, MAC East)

Akron Zips:  1-3 (5th place, MAC East)

 

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Ohio Bobcats:  lost on the road on Sep. 25 against the Northwestern Wildcats 35-6.

Akron Zips:  lost on the road on Sep. 25 against the Ohio State Buckeyes 59-7.

 

 

Ohio is coming into this game on the opposite of a four-game winning streak with a 0-4 record overall and they are 0-2 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. This will be their first conference game of the football season. Their 4 losses came against the Syracuse Orange, the Duquesne Dukes, the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns, and Northwestern in their last game. Kurtis Rourke struggled in that game as he completed 20/29 passes for 166 yards and 1 interception. Armani Rogers also completed 1/3 passes for 3 yards and 1 interception as well. Rogers also led the team in rushing in that game with 68 yards and 1 touchdown on 7 carries. The receiving corps had a very quiet day as Tyler Walton led the team in receiving with 44 yards on 4 receptions while Cameron Odom made 5 catches for 42 receiving yards. Cannon Blauser led the defense with 6 solo tackles and 1 assisted one. Michael Ballentine and Bryce Houston were both right behind him with 5 solo tackles each. No one on the defense recorded a sack or an interception in that game. They have scored 55 points in their first 4 games and they have allowed their opponents to score 141 points against them. Their offense is averaging 301 YPG while their defense is allowing 436.3 YPG.

 

 

Akron is coming into this game with a 1-3 record overall and they are 1-1 in their home college football games this season where they will be in this game. This will be their first conference matchup on their season schedule. Their 1 win came against the Bryant Bulldogs while their 3 losses came against the Auburn Tigers, the Temple Owls, and OSU in their last game. Quarterback DJ Irons struggled a lot in their last game as he completed 14/29 passes for 115 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. They did not get much of a run game going in that one as Blake Hester led the team in rushing with 47 yards on 12 carries. Konata Mumpfield led the receivers with 67 yards and the lone touchdown on 7 receptions but other than him, it was a very quiet day for the receiving corps. Jaylen Kelly-Powell led the defense with 4 solo tackles and 1 assisted one also recording 1 sack in that game. Ryan Johnson had the only other sack for his team in that one while Charles Amankwaa came away with the only interception. They have scored 76 points in their first 4 games and they have allowed their opponents to score 178 points against them. Their offense is averaging 362.7 YPG while their defense is allowing 397 YPG.

 

This Mid American Conference matchup in the NCAA division between these 2 MAC teams have Ohio as a 10 point favorite with the total set in the low 50's. Ohio will be desperate to get their first win of the season here against an Akron side that they are better than, knowing they also have a weaker Bowling Green Falcons team coming up right after. Their offense has not looked great though as they have not scored more than 14 points against an FBS opponent this year. Akron's offense has not been scoring too many points either. With this being the first conference matchup for both, this should be a more defensive game that ends up staying under. The best bet to make in this one is on the under.

 

Ohio Akron Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, Oct 2, 2021 (3:30 pm ET start time) is Ohio 24 Akron 14.

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Ohio Bobcats: 18-7 ATS after scoring 7 points or less in the first half in 2 straight games. 18-10 ATS after 3 or more consecutive straight up losses.

Akron Zips: 116-148 ATS in all games. 50-70 ATS In home games.

 

 

Ohio Bobcats:  K. Thompson (LB) day-to-day - Knee injury.

Akron Zips:  K. Nelson (QB) day-to-day - Foot injury. T. Dollard (RB) Out indefinitely - Suspension.

 

 

Ohio Bobcats: Tyler Walton is one of their starters to watch here. He leads his team in receiving yards and in touchdowns. If his team is going to score points here then he is going to be involved in that offense in a big way so look for him to make some big catches in this game.

 

Akron Zips: DJ Irons is one playmaker to watch here. He leads his team in passing yards and in rushing. He is the leader of this offense so look for him to make the plays on the ground and through the air to get the job done for his team here.

 

"We had three turnovers and all three were inside the 50. We can't put our defense in that position.” - Tim Albin on costly turnovers in bad areas of the field.

 

 

"Our guys went out there and fought hard. They got banged up a little bit, and they just kept fighting. Unfortunately, we just gave up too many explosive plays." - Tom Arth after losing to OSU.

 

 

 

WR Odom, Cameron 

WR Walton, Tyler 

WR Buckner, Jerome 

TE Luehrman, Ryan 

QB Rourke, Kurtis 

RB Tuggle, De'Montre 

RB Allison, O'Shaan 

 

WR Mathison, Michael 

WR Qualls Jr., George 

WR Mumpfield, Konata 

TE Brank, Tristian 

QB Irons, DJ 

RB Norrils, Jonzell 

 

Passing: K. Rourke (598)

Rushing: O. Allison (202)

Receiving: T. Walton (162)

Touchdowns: T. Walton (2)

Sacks: W. Evans (1.5)

Tackles: A. Floyd (16)

 

Passing: D. Irons Jr. (649)

Rushing: D. Irons Jr. (182)

Receiving: M. Mathison (247)

Touchdowns: K. Mumpfield (3)

Sacks: M. Scott (2)

Tackles: B. Arslanian (19)

 

Coaches:

Ohio Bobcats: Tim Albin (1st season)

Akron Zips: Tom Arth (3rd season)

 

69 degrees F partly cloudy, 65% humidity, 0% chance of rain, up to 9 mph wind speeds NW.