The Ohio Bobcats (5-5, 3-3 MAC) and Akron Zips (3-6, 2-3 MAC) are two teams going in opposite directions as the Mid American Conference race winds down. Ohio was a team that looked out of contention by mid-October but consecutive wins over Bowling Green and Temple has kept the Bobcats hopes alive though slim. Akron, with only two conference wins appears to be out of it but will be playing for pride when the Zips host the Bobcats on ESPN2 Wednesday night from the Iron Bowl Stadium in Akron, Ohio.
Oddsmakers at online sports wagering leader BetOnline.com see the Bobcats as a -145 money line favorite and laying -3 on the side while the game total is holding at 49 ½.
Ohio enters the game with a modest two-game winning streak, having defeated Bowling Green and Temple in back-to-back games.The Ohio offense scored 61 points in the victories, while the defense has surrendered just 34 total points.
The scoring has come predominately from running back Kalvin McRae The senior has rushed for 1213 yards and 17 touchdowns thus far in 2007, with 351 yards in the last two games.
But McRae and the offense have been consistent all season; it has been the recent stellar play by the defense that has fueled Ohio's resurgence.
Against Temple last weekend, Ohio held one of the MAC's top running games to just 48 yards on 31 attempts, a average of 1.3 yards per rush. The Bobcats forced a fumble, intercepted a pass for a touchdown and sacked the Owls' quarterback four times.
Akron has lost its last three games, to Temple, Buffalo and Bowling Green, respectively, the last a 44-20 defeat on Nov. 4.
The Akron offense has sputtered all season, with no representatives amongst the conference's top-10 rushers or passers. The Zips lone star on the offensive side of the ball is wide receiver Jabari Arthur. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior from Montreal, Quebec is ranked No. 4 in the league with 7.11 catches per game and has caught a total of 64 passes for 858 yards and nine touchdowns.
But the heart of the Zips is their pass defense. Akron has the third best pass defense in the conference and its pair of defensive backs, Davanzo Tate and Reggie Corner, have combined for 16 pass break-ups. Corner has the third most interceptions in the MAC with five picks including one he returned for touchdown.
Ohio and Akron have played to a tie in the all-time season series with an 11-11-1 overall record and each team holds an 8-3 record at home with the lone draw coming at Akron. Last season the Bobcats defeated the Zips 17-7 while in 2005 Akron won 27-3.
Get on board with Reno Goldberg, two time winner of the Best Online Handicapper award , and let him make your winning College Football Picks guaranteed to make you money. Reno offers single guaranteed picks and multi picks packages. Reno Goldberg is on a hot streak right now having picked 9 overall winners of 11 picks for 82% last week. Jump on board today!
Checkout our live College Football Point Spreads showcasing real time odds of the world's top online sportsbooks all in one easy to use location. Get line movements in real time and find out who has the best college football betting odds.
