College Football Odds – Ohio Tries To Gain Positioning In The MAC East

The Ohio Bobcats have not had the kind of season they originally anticipated or hoped for.

They’ll try to improve against the Akron Zips this weekend as they are a big favorite on the college football odds.

Akron Zips @ Ohio Bobcats

Saturday, October 16th – 2:05 PM ET

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Peden Stadium, Athens, OH

College Football Odds: Akron +17, Ohio -17

Total: 47.5

In 2009, the Ohio Bobcats flourished under coach Frank Solich, the Nebraska refugee who was clearly bothered by his forced exit from the Huskers. Solich descended into a pit of alcohol abuse and really lost sight of the opportunity to renew his coaching career.

At Ohio University, however, Solich has found solid ground. He’s molded the Bobcats into a contender in the Mid-American Conference, and in 2009, his vision paid off. The Bobcats won the MAC East thanks to a late-season win over Temple, and though Ohio lost the MAC Championship Game to Central Michigan, the team bounced back to upset Marshall in the Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl in Detroit.

Hopes were high that in 2010, the Bobcats would defend their East Division title and get another shot at a conference crown.

So far, that plan hasn’t materialized. Ohio stubbed its toe at home to Toledo and went 1-3 in non-conference play. The Bobcats did win two games against lower-tier opponents in the MAC, but the loss to Toledo could bite them in the backside by season’s end. At any rate, Ohio has no margin for error; the Bobcats have to beat Akron, the worst team in the MAC, if they want to win yet another division title.

College Football Odds: What Akron Has To Do To Win

The Zips, who stand at 0-6 on the season, have to improve in just about every way. There can’t be one key or one magic bullet for a program that has limped along in recent seasons and has been particularly impotent in 2010. The Zips, out of 120 FBS teams, rate 113th in passing offense, 93rd in rushing offense, 112th in scoring offense, and 110th in scoring defense.

With national rankings like those, holistic and comprehensive improvement is the only real remedy. Progress in one area won’t mean much if not supplemented by growth and development in other facets of football.

College Football Odds: What Ohio Has To Do To Win

If the Bobcats ever found a passing game to go along with their rushing game, they’d be even more formidable. In Ohio’s three non-conference games against FBS opponents, the Bobcats averaged just 14.3 points. Quarterback Boo Jackson has thrown for just 752 yards in six games this season, an average of only 125 yards per game.

He did throw for three touchdowns with no interceptions last week against Bowling Green – that’s the good news. However, Jackson completed only nine total passes for just 76 yards. Ohio’s 257-yard rushing effort is what carried Solich’s squad past Bowling Green by a 49-25 count. If Jackson can ever establish some consistency with the passing game, Ohio’s offense will be really special.

College Football Odds: Outlook & Pick

Ohio does have to shore up its passing game to improve its 2010 prospects, but given Akron’s weakness across the board, the Bobcats probably won’t have to throw too many forward passes this weekend. Ohio should handle Akron with ease and cover the number at home.

College Football Odds Pick: Ohio -17

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