Akron vs Michigan College Football Handicapping
The 11th-ranked Michigan Wolverines moved up six spots in the Week 3 AP poll after a big win in their rivalry game with Notre Dame last week. Getting up for that game would have been easy, but they’ll have to avoid a letdown with a cupcake matchup against the Akron Zips this weekend.
Akron Zips (1-1) at 11 Michigan Wolverines (2-0)
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2013
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Venue: Michigan Stadium
City: Ann Arbor, Michigan
O/U Odds: 58
Spread: Michigan -37
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Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner was wearing No. 98 to honor school legend Tom Harmon, and he honored him well, throwing for four touchdown passes and running for another score to help lead the Wolverines to a 41-30 win over the Fighting Irish in front of a record-setting crowd in The Big House.
With the win, Michigan improved to 16-0 at home under head coach Brady Hoke.
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Gardner completed 21 of 33 passes for 294 yards in the game, adding 82 yards on 13 carries. There was, however, one play that Gardner would like to forget, throwing the ball into the hands of Notre Dame defensive end Stephon Tuitt while trying to avoid a sack in the end zone. Gardner’s favorite target on the night was Jeremy Gallon, who set career highs with 184 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Fitzgerald Toussaint had a forgettable game, rushing for only 71 yards on 22 carries, but he did have a critical 31-yard reception on the team’s final scoring drive. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Wolverine defense allowed Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees to complete 29 of 51 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns, but they did record two interceptions, with both coming from sophomore cornerback Blake Countess.
Those interceptions masked some issues facing a unit that allowed 30 points in the game.
Akron is coming off a big victory of their own, holding off James Madison down the stretch in a 35-33 win. Quarterbacks Kyle Pohl and Nick Hirschman threw for a combined four touchdowns in the contest.
Pohl completed 14 of 22 passes for 143 yards and two scores, and Hirschmann completed 6 of 10 passes for 144 yards and a matching two scores, including a 68-yard strike to receiver Andrew Pratt, who had 188 yards on three receptions in the game. Hirschmann also added a one-yard rushing touchdown.
The Akron defense didn’t have a performance to write home about. They allowed James Madison quarterback Michael Birdsong to complete 29 of 42 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns, with running back Dae’Quan Scott adding 107 yards on the ground.
All in all, the Dukes compiled 503 yards of offense, but the Zips did come up with a big stop on the final possession of the game to seal the win.
Michigan will get their points against a soft Akron defense, but expect the Zips to get some points of their own against a Wolverine defense that was exposed by Notre Dame in Week 2.
The over is 6-1 in the Wolverines’ last seven games overall.
The play: Over 58
