Akron Preview

Bowling Green and Akron will hit the field tomorrow with one thing in common.

Both teams will think this is their best chance to win a game this year.

Akron is currently favored by 2.5 points.

The Zips are 0-4, just as BG is.  They have lost their last 21 games...their new Coach, in his second year, has yet to win.  BG beat them 35-6 last year.  They are losing by 31 points a game and BG by 35.

Here are some more comparisons;

Offense:

Scoring:  Akron 11th, BG 12th

Yards per play:  BG 10th, Akron 11th

Yards per rush:  BG 5th, Akron 9th

Pass Efficiency:  Akron 11th, BG 12th

Defense:

Scoring:  Akron 11th, BG 12th

Yards per play:  BG 11th, Akron 12th

Yards per rush:  Akron 10th, BG 12th

Pass Efficiency:  BG 11th, Akron 12th

You get the idea.

Akron's Coach is Tom Arth, who was a DIII Coach of the year at John Carroll.  He has taken a different approach then Coach Loeffler has....there are 26 players on the Akron roster who have played college ball somewhere besides BG.  They might not all be his...Bowden always took a lot of transfers, too.

They are QB'd by Zack Gibson, who is a RFR and is #10 in the MAC in passing efficiency.  The only QB behind him is ours.

While their overall rushing attack is not great, they have a very strong back in Teon Dollard.  He's carried 79 times at a 5.8 yards per carry.  He is a JUCO transfer.  Their second back, converted WR Jeremiah Knight, is getting 5 per carry and was a PWO at Ohio State.

Their QB has lost 122 rushing yards and only 38 on sacks.

Their lead WR is Nate Stewart with 11 catches and about 15 yards per catch.

You can see on defense they struggle.  They gave up 69 to Kent and held OU to 24.

I would expect this to be a pretty spirited game with a lot of running plays.  Advantage will go to whichever team makes progress stopping the run.