2015-2016 Football Previews (MAC)- Zips
The Akron Zips started the season 4-2 last year before falling off and losing five of their last six games. The Zips had expected to get to a bowl game, but their rivals from Kent State upset them in their final game to keep them out of bowl eligibility. Expectations are even higher entering the 2015 NCAA Football Season for an Akron team with a lot of veterans at key spots.
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MAC 2015-2016 College Football Preview- Akron Zips
Head Coach: Terry Bowden
2014 Record: 5-7
Odds to win MAC (from BetOnline): +600
Season Win Total (from 5Dimes):7.5
Akron has been to one bowl game in the history of the program, and that was back in 2005. They lost that game to Memphis in the Motor City Bowl.
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The Zips were disappointed to not reach bowl eligibility last year, but they expect to be there this year.
Do they have the roster to help them reach that mark? The oddsmakers obviously believe so with a win total of 7.5. Let’s take a look.
Team Strengths
Akron has an amazing defensive line. Se’Von Pittman transferred in from Ohio State and he is a star. At the other end is another new Ohio State transfer, Jamal Marcus. Marcus should prove to be a great player in the MAC as well. Cody Grice was a first-team MAC performer at nose tackle last year. Rodney Coe joins him at the defensive tackle spot, and he is a highly touted junior college transfer.
No other team in the MAC has this much star power on the defensive front.
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I expect the quarterback position to be an area of strength for the Zips this season. Kyle Pohl is a senior and he’ll probably the starter at the beginning of the season, but Akron has some great backups who should get a shot as well. Most exciting is Tra’Von Chapman who was a very highly touted guy in high school. Also in the mix is Matthew Hoyer (brother of NFL QB Brian Hoyer).
Jatavis Brown might be the best linebacker in the MAC, and he’ll be the leader of the defense this year. Brown had 99 tackles and 10.5 tackles for a loss last season. Darryl Monroe is a newcomer for the team, but he got some starts at Washington State before transferring and he should prove to be a nice addition. With a great line in front of them, look for these linebackers to spend a lot of time in the backfield.
Team Weaknesses
Akron lost its top two wide receivers from last year. This is a unit that is lacking playmakers and guys to hit the home run ball with. While I expect much improved quarterback play, the weakness at wide receiver may hinder the ability of Akron to move the ball through the air this year.
The secondary was strong for Akron last year, but they lose three key guys from that group. The Zips will have a hard time holding opponents to a 56 percent completion rate as they did last year. There is still some talent here, but there is definitely less experience.
Akron Zips 2015-2016 Prediction: 9-4
The schedule starts really tough with a game at Oklahoma and then a game at home against Pittsburgh. It gets a lot easier the rest of the way.
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The MAC schedule sets up really nicely for the Zips. The amount of highly touted transfers this team has picked up should definitely make a difference on the field right away. I look for Akron to not only get to a bowl game, but to get to nine wins this year. It will be a big year for the Zips!
Akron 2015 Football Schedule
| Regular Season | |||
| Date | Time | vs | |
| 9/5/15 | 7:00 PM ET | @OKLA | |
| 9/12/15 | 6:00 PM ET | PITT | |
| 9/19/15 | TBD | SAV | |
| 9/26/15 | TBD | @ULL | |
| 10/3/15 | TBD | OHIO | |
| 10/10/15 | TBD | @EMU | |
| 10/17/15 | TBD | @BGSU | |
| 10/31/15 | TBD | CMU | |
| 11/7/15 | TBD | @MASS | |
| 11/14/15 | TBD | @M-OH | |
| 11/21/15 | TBD | BUFF | |
| 11/27/15 | TBD | KENT | |
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