Win and you’re in. As long as the Ohio Bobcats get a W on Tuesday night against the Akron Zips, they will win the MAC East and a trip to Ford Field to take on either Toledo or Western Michigan in the MAC Championship Game. The Bobcats are hungry for the win, having not reached the conference title game since 2011, and haven’t won the MAC in almost 50 years. Meanwhile, their opponents are looking to get that all important sixth win to get to a bowl game.
This matchup in Week 13 of the college football season will take place on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at 7 p.m. ET at Peden Stadium. This game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Odds Analysis
Akron’s season started brightly, but injuries have cast a long shadow on the Zips’ prospects. The Zips have lost and failed to cover three straight, including games against Buffalo and Bowling Green where they were favored by double digits.
The Bobcats could have clinched the East title last week against Central Michigan, but fell to the Chippewas despite being a one point favorite. Ohio is just 1-4 ATS at home this season.
Last Year’s Meeting
When these two teams met last season, it was a defensive slugfest that sailed under the total. Akron and Ohio combined for just 546 yards of offense in a 14-12 Bobcats win as both running games failed to ever get going.
Ohio averaged just 1.5 yards a carry, well short of its average for the season. The Zips were better, but not by much, toting the ball for 2.5 yards an attempt on the day.
Each team’s failure to be able to run crippled their offensive strategy and forced them to rely on an ineffectual passing game. Thomas Woodson and Greg Windham each threw an interception and managed to throw for just a hair above six yards per pass. More of the same should be expected due to their respective quarterback situations.
Matchup to Watch
Quinton Maxwell is Frank Solich’s quarterback for better or worse but it’s not hard to see why Solich decided to insert the freshman into the line-up mid-season. Maxwell still needs a lot of work as a passer, he’s currently completing just 55.9 percent of his attempts, but has a playmaking ability that Windham lacked. He continues to grow through growing pains, but hasn’t made too many big mistakes.
Akron’s quarterback situation is a mess right now. Woodson and Tra’Von Chapman have traded QB duties this season, but both were injured last week in the loss to Central Michigan and WR Tyrell Goodman had to finish the game under center. There’s no indication yet as to whether or not Woodson or Chapman will be able to suit up, both are listed as questionable, but if neither can give it a go the Zips won’t have any sort of passing attack.
Free ATS Pick
Betting the under in Ohio games has been one of the most solid angles this season. After a 56-54 shootout the first week of the season, the Bobcats have played solid defense and the under has gone 9-0-1 since. That should lead to a total in the 40s and while it might be pretty low, it’s probably the right side in this game.
Ohio is likely to be a road favorite when the line opens in this one. The Bobcats don’t have the same questions that the Zips do and can rely on a better running game and a more solid defense. Points will be at a premium and so will possession and that favors the Bobcats. Look for Ohio to pull out a tough road win and immediately celebrate a MAC East Title afterwards.
College Football Odds: Bobcats 21, Zips 10
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