After three 1-11 seasons in a row, including Terry Bowden’s first year, the Akron Zips showed last year by going 5-7 over and 4-4 in the MAC. Terry Bowden has done things right here and thanks to solid recruiting and his coaching, the Zips are pointed in the right direction. Preview & schedule are below.
The Zips averaged just 20.2 ppg last year, but this offense has a chance to be so much better, especially if QB Kyle Pohl can work on his accuracy, after throwing 14 TDs to 10 INTs and completing just 56% of his passes. He does have an experienced WR corps that has its top 3 players back from last year and has been rated as the top WR corps in the MAC. The top 3 combined for 1407 yards receiving and 9 TDs last year. The Zips also have a solid running game back as Jawon Chisolm and Connor Hundley are back after combining for 1294 yards rushing last year. Chislom had 8 TDs on the ground. The OL has bulked up and depth has been added, but are still the weak link on this offense. Defense is where this team greatly improved last year, knocking 7.1 ppg off of what they allowed in 2012. This year they have 7 starters back and should be even better. The strength of this unit is a LB that rates in a tie with Bowling Green for tops in the league. Jatavaris Brown leads this solid group after leading the team in tackles last year with 107 and had 2 sacks and 4 TFL. The DL is led by Cody Grice and really has had some good depth added here, plus has added Se‘Von Pittman, who transferred from Ohio State and a #15 DT coming out of HS. The secondary rates as one of the worst in the MAC and could struggle.
Terry Bowden changed the fortunes of Akron football, by building from the ground up and it has shown with improved play on the field and in their recruiting. The offense should be much more explosive than last year, especially if the OL comes around, while the defense will continue to improve under the guidance of DC Chuck Amato. The Zips have a tough road slate that includes Ohio, Ball State, Buffalo and Kent State, while they get Bowling green at home. This team has an excellent shot at a bowl game this year and if they go at least 2-2 in those road games then they have a real shot at taking the MAC East title. I will call for a 3rd place finish in the Mac and a 6-6 record overall. KEY TREND: 1-10 ATS after playing Miami-Ohio.
2014 Akron Zips Football Schedule
Aug. 28 Howard
Sep. 6 at Penn State
Sep. 13 OPEN DATE
Sep. 20 Marshall
Sep. 27 at Pitt
Oct. 4 Eastern Michigan
Oct. 11 Miami Univ.
Oct. 18 at Ohio
Oct. 25 at Boise State
Nov. 4 Bowling Green
Nov. 11 at Buffalo
Nov. 18 UMass
Nov. 25 at Kent State
Info gathered From Phil Steele's CFB Preview and Athlon Sports
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