The Akron Zips and the Buffalo Bulls meet in college football MAC-tion from the UB Stadium on Friday night.
The Akron Zips will try to finish the year strong after a 44-12 win over Northern Illinois last time out. DJ Irons has thrown for 2,605 yards, 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions on 66.8% passing while also logging 314 rushing yards and 4 TDs. Cam Wiley has a team-high 486 rushing yards with 5 TDs while Clyde Price III has 230 rushing yards with 5 scores. Shocky Jacques-Louis has a team-high 69 catches for 837 yards with a pair of TDs while Alex Adams has 56 grabs for 837 yards and 8 TD grabs and Daniel George has 60 catches for 693 yards this season. On defense, Bubba Arslanian has a team-high 118 total tackles while Akron’s defense as a whole has 16 sacks and 8 interceptions.
The Buffalo Bulls will try to rebound from a 30-27 OT loss to Kent State in their last game. Cole Snyder’s thrown for 2,501 yards, 14 touchdowns and 7 interceptions on 59.9% passing while Ron Cook Jr. has a team-high 600 rushing yards with 4 touchdowns and Mike Washington has 587 rushing yards and a team-high 7 touchdowns. Justin Marshall leads Buffalo with 627 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, while Quian Williams has a team-high 54 catches for 613 yards and 4 touchdowns this season. On defense, Shaun Dolac has a team-high 123 total tackles including 86 solo tackles while Buffalo’s defense as a whole has 19 sacks and 10 interceptions as well this season.
Akron is 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a win while the over is 10-4 in their last 14 road games. Buffalo is 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 home games and 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following an ATS loss while the over is 4-0 in their last 4 conference games.
I get the case to be made for an underdog in some spots, but this is not one of those spots for me. I haven’t been overly high on Buffalo, but there’s no denying what’s at stake for the Bulls here as it’s basically win and you’re in for the Bulls in terms of bowl eligibility. The Zips have only pride to play for at this point and I think the motivation edge for Buffalo will come into play here. Give me the Bulls.