2008 Akron Zips Football Betting Preview

[Qbins Missile Crisis]

College Football Betting Overview – Akron Zips

The Akron Zips are one of the weaker sports wagering teams in the MAC. They finished 4-8 last year, which was their second consecutive losing season.



There isn’t a lot of optimism for this year as the Zips look for an identity on offense and try to develop a young defense. The Zips have something to look forward to, though: it will be their last season in the Rubber Bowl as they move to a new stadium next year.

Offense

The Zips offense isn’t necessarily under construction, but it is experiencing a makeover.

They are moving their leading rusher to safety. They are moving a safety to wide receiver. And the team’s top wideout graduated.

The starting quarterback, junior Chris Jacquemain, is decent at best. Last year, he was inconsistent and at times, a detriment to the team. Now he has to improve without his top target. The good news is that four of the five starting offensive linemen return.

There’s a slew of running backs in the backfield, which is Bryan Williams was moved to safety, but nobody really scary. At best, the Zips might have a nice running game.

Wide receiver is a very talent-scarce position on this offense. It’s hard to imagine the Zips competing with some of the potent offenses around when you figure they have an average quarterback, an OK running game and a lack of weapons at wide receiver. This is a conference where you have to put up lots of points to win.

Defense

The Zips defense doesn’t look much better than the calamitous offense, which probably equals another four-win season.

They allowed 409 yards per game last year and you could put some of the blame on a weak offense who couldn’t help the time of possession battle, but that issue will likely resurface this year.

Since the Zips are moving a running back to safety, clearly they aren’t happy with the production they are getting from the position. There are seven departures from the secondary, which a downright scary thought considering the passing games of teams like Bowling Green and Ball State are on the schedule.

The front seven should be alright. The Zips should have a good line with Iowa transfer Ryan Bain anchoring the nose spot and second-team All-MAC lineman Almondo Sewell at the end.

Outlook

The Zips just don’t have the talent, stability or experience across their roster to compete with the likes of Bowling Green in the MAC East. They could also get roughed up pretty early on in their schedule with trips to Wisconsin, Syracuse and a home game against Ball State to start the year.

The Zips will be one of the bottom feeders in the MAC but at least they have their InfoCision Stadium to look forward to in 2009.

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