Some sad University of Akron student has to put this pathetic thing on during games.
So the Zips haven’t exactly been tearing it up on the football field recently. I mean seriously, who’s going to get impassioned about football when your mascot, the guy who’s supposed to fire up the crowd and the team, is a freaking Kangaroo, wears a rat cap, and is one of the lamest mascots ever. Since the FBS era began in 1987, the Zips have never won 8 games or more in a single season. Like ever. In those 24 seasons, they’ve posted a robust record of 107 – 163 – 3, with their only bowl appearance ending in a loss, and have gone five straight seasons without finishing above .500. The Zips have started the 2011 campaign 0 – 2 coming into Saturday’s game against the Bearcats so number six looks to be right around the corner! Now that I’ve effectively reviled Akron’s football program, let’s get to the matchup massacre this weekend.
First to the offense. Spoiler alert: Cincinnati is going to score a lot of points:
The Zips have been outscored 83 – 3 in two games this season and I fully expect something around that score this Saturday. Seriously, if Cincinnati doesn’t come out and put up Austin Peay-like numbers, there will be reason to worry in Bearcats nation. Ohio State and Temple almost exclusively ran it down the Zips’ throats in their games to the tune of 527 yards and six touchdowns. The Bearcats are as balanced of a spread team as you’ll see in college football and with a workhorse like Pead in your backfield, why wouldn’t you? Cincinnati’s offensive line should manhandle Akron up front and create running lanes for Pead to run through. He could easily break the 100 yard mark by half time. To the passing game, Collaros and his trio of Woods, McClung, and Thompkins should have a field day. Against Ohio State, Akron gave up almost 300 yards passing and 4 touchdowns. The Bearcats have a more explosive passing game than the Buckeyes and should easily pile up yards through the air. Overall, Cincinnati should be up 4 to 5 touchdowns by halftime just like in the game against Austin Peay.
Now the defense. Again, outlook’s pretty good for the Bearcats:
After performing below my expectations against Tennessee, Cincinnati’s defensive line should be licking their chops in anticipation of this weekend’s game. Akron has allowed 12 sacks and 17 tackles for loss so far this season. Against Temple last weekend, quarterback Clayton Moore was sacked six times in the 2nd quarter alone. Temple has a solid defense but if the Stewart-Hughes-Wolfe-Giordano quartet doesn”t put up similar stats, I’m going to be a little peeved. Overall, Akron’s offense has been putrid this season scoring only a field goal and putting up about a third as many yards as their opponents. Moore has seemed to supplant junior Patrick Nicely as the starter and hasn’t done much this season as the new field general, throwing for only 246 yards with a pair of picks. His numbers are reflective of how poorly the offensive line has played. Still this bodes well for a secondary that needs a little pick-me-up. Akron’s rushing game isn’t much of an improvement with only 77 rushing yards this year. I’m expecting Cincinnati’s defense to allow right around 30 to 40 rush yards this Saturday as they have been stout against the run all season. Finally, the Zips’ wide receiver core is headlined by junior Marquelo Suel who has over 100 yards receiving this season. But Akron’s offensive line isn’t allowing Moore to get the ball into his playmaker’s hands, and I expect more of the same this weekend.
Finally, to special teams. The Bearcats and Zips actually share some similarities here. Akron’s place kicker is junior T.J. Marchese without much experience in his role owning a single kickoff and field goal to his name in just two years of ‘action’. The punters on both squads are both veterans with a ton of experience in Pat O’Donnell for the Bearcats and Zach Campbell for the Zips. The main difference this Saturday is that O’Donnell probably won’t see much playing time whereas Campbell’s leg could be very sore after this game. Ralph David Abernathy and D.J. Woods should put up some numbers in the return game. So far this year, the Zips have allowed double the amount of yards per return to their opponents on punts and triple on kickoffs. Akron’s coverage is not that impressive and Cincinnati’s skill players could take a few to the house this Saturday.
Outcome – Cincinnati 59, Akron 10
Like I said, I’d be very disappointed if I didn’t see the Bearcats play just as they did against Austin Peay two weeks ago. Cincinnati dominant at just about every position on the field and the Zips really don’t stand a chance in this game. Annihilate. Obliterate. Crush. Squash. Use whatever word you want to describe this one.