College Football ATS Picks - Ohio at Akron Game Preview

The Ohio Bobcats can clinch their fifth MAC East title in the last 12 seasons this Tuesday night with a win over the Akron Zips. Akron is the only other team in the MAC East with a winning record and the only team left that can keep Ohio from playing at Ford Field on December 2. Ohio has yet to win a MAC Championship in this era despite making it here four times, but this might be the best team we have seen yet from Frank Solich during his time in Athens.

Watch this regular season Week 12 matchup live on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 7 p.m. ET at InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio. This game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

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Odds Analysis

These have been two of the best ATS teams in the country this season. Akron is 7-3 ATS overall and is 5-1 ATS in conference. The one time the Zips didn’t cover was in a blowout loss to Toledo in mid-October, but this has been a very reliable team. Betting the under in Akron games is the only thing better than investing in Bitcoin as the under is 9-1 in Zips games this year.

Ohio has been a great ATS team as well this season. The Bobcats are 8-2 SU and have covered every game in which they got the victory. Last week, they made bettors a good chunk of change as an underdog, pasting MAC West leader Toledo 38-10.

Last Meeting

Solich is hoping history repeats itself this season. Last year, Ohio knocked off Akron and clinched the MAC East crown with the victory. A win in this year’s showdown would accomplish the same result.

Last year’s meeting was a defensive slugfest. Neither team could muster more than 300 total yards on the day as each defense was able to hold the opponent’s ground game in check. Neither team was able to score a touchdown in a 9-3 Ohio victory that the Bobcats won by having a slightly better run game and better special teams.

Ohio’s kicker made all three of his field goals, while Akron’s kicker went 1 of 2 on the day in this one. Additionally, Akron was not able to flip the field with punting as its kicker was only able to average 34 yards per punt. That doomed the Zips in a low-scoring affair.

Matchup to Watch

Ohio has one of the best running games in the nation. The Bobcats are averaging 5.7 yards per carry this season and ripped apart Toledo on the ground last week. The combination of Nathan Rourke and A.J. Ouellette has been too much for MAC teams to overcome and they have kept it going all year long.

There’s an outside chance that the Bobcats can be only the second team ever to have three 1,000-yard rushers in a season. Ouellette is very close to the mark already with 897 yards, and Rourke has a good chance to get there with 668 yards on the ground. Dorian Brown has more work to do with 600 yards through 10 games, but can get there with four more games to go.

Akron doesn’t have much of a run defense. The Zips are allowing 4.9 yards per carry and opponents have been able to slowly grind them down.

Free ATS Pick

Thomas Woodson was suspended last week for the Miami (Ohio) game, but should be ready to go again in this one. Woodson was suspended for violating team rules and the team struggled to move the ball with Kato Nelson at the helm. The Zips should stand a much better chance this week with their starter back.

Although the game is in Akron, I don’t see a way Ohio loses this one. The Bobcats should be able to control the clock with their ground game and limit Woodson in order to secure the win.

College Football Odds: Ohio 27, Akron 13

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