College Football Predictions – Akron Zips 2017 NCAA Football Preview
2016 Recap
2016 Record – 5-7
2016 ATS – 4-8
Things were looking good for the Zips last season when they ROCKETED out to a 5-3 start. A bowl game appearance seemed like a mortal lock until they lost to Buffalo and Bowling Green. They could not get past Ohio in the season finale and finished up at 5-7. HC Terry Bowden has definitely made nice strides with the program. Let’s see if he can get them back to a bowl game.
2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
MAC – TBD
East Division – TBD
OFFENSE
Akron had one of the best passing attacks in the MAC last season and bring back senior QB Thomas Woodson for one more season. Woodson was injured for a good portion of last season but still ended up with a fine 18-6 TD to INT ratio. He can most definitely MATRICULATE in the passing game but will have to do so this season without the top 2 WRs from last year’s squad. Jerome Lane had 1,000 yards receiving and JoJo Natson caught 10 balls for TDs. We have a feeling the passing game is still going to click.
The Zips need to get things rolling on the ground. Last season they were ranked 2nd last in the MAC in rushing offense and have to get to at least mid-pack to help the offense stay balanced. The RB unit appears a bit thin in terms of talent but Ohio St transfer Warren Ball is going to give it another shot. The offensive line returns four starters and has some nice size.
DEFENSE
The defense took a yuuuuge step backwards last year and yielded 34 points per game which ranked them 2nd last in the conference. That was just one season removed from allowing 21.5 points per contest (#2 MAC). This year they bring back 7 starters as well as some transfers. The talent level seems upgraded and we can expect better this year. The strength of the defense is the LB unit with all three starters back in the mix including LB Ulysees Gilbert who had 122 tackles last season and earned 1st Team MAC accolades.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Zips have some good news in that PK Tom O’Leary is back after nailing 10/11 FGs last season. The bad news is the loss of star return man JoJo Natson who had a pair of punt return TDs in 2016.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot
October 21 at Toledo. This will be their 4th road game in five weeks and they have not had much luck playing in that venue.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The Zips do not have a bye week and finish up the regular season on November 21.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 6.5
MEGALOCKS says:
Overall, we give the ZIPS a 6.5 ATS Value Rating (Above Average) this season.
The Zips may just slip under the radar this season. We feel pretty good about the QB situation and a defense that is sure to be improved. The MAC East is definitely not filled with JUGGERNAUTS. Anything is possible. When it comes to beating the point spread we think you can snag some value on this team during the course of the season. Our only concern is Bowden’s less than stellar ATS mark at Akron over five years of 26-33-2 (44%). We are cautiously optimistic. Fear the ROO.
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