Football
I have anticipated this game for two years. No exaggeration.
The last time the Wagon Wheel game was played in Akron, the teams met at the Rubber Bowl. Ever since then, I have wondered how cool it will be for the teams to meet on the University of Akron's campus at a brand new stadium.
Well, it won't be quite as cool as I originally hoped because of the Zips' 1-7 record. The team does, however, have a chance to keep its rivals out of MAC East contention. And that appears to be the team's mantra this week: Spoil Kent State's hopes for the division title.
Holding their jobs for six years, J.D. Brookhart and Doug Martin are the longest tenured coaches in the MAC. Brookhart's record is slightly better, but the teams have always seemed to peak at different times.
As a Zips fan, I don't think I will ever forget the 2006 matchup. In that year, Akron was the hot-shot favorite to win the MAC and it had just knocked off N.C. State. Kent State dusted them up at Dix Stadium, 37-15.
Now the roles are reversed. Akron is the hapless bunch riding a six-game stink wave. Kent State has as much momentum as the program has seen under Martin. The Flashes sit at 4-1 in the MAC and control their own destiny for a trip to the MAC Championship.
Despite the discrepancy in records and momentum, you will find that these teams are quite similar.
The most obvious similarity is that both teams will rely on a teenage quarterback. Spencer Keith and Patrick Nicely are true freshmen — highly touted — but still learning. This will likely be the first of four duels between them.
Both teams start young running backs — freshman DeVoe Torrence and sophomore Jacquise Terry. Both teams have sturdy defenses that, at times, have been let down by an offense that struggled to carry its weight.
But Kent State has gotten better results. The main difference between Akron's 0-4 MAC record and Kent State's 4-1 record is that the Flashes average about 60 more yards of offense per game. Another huge discrepancy is sacks per game. Kent State leads the MAC with 3.33; Akron is last with 0.75. The leader of Kent's pass rush is lineman Monte Simmons.
- News and notes…
Tom Gaffney detailed the backgrounds of both young quarterbacks.
The Zips are between 3.5- and four-point underdogs. The over-under is 43.
Here is what I wrote about the game on July 9, when 82 percent of readers believed Akron would win.
Here are the MAC Roundtable answers for this week.
The Plain Dealer's Elton Alexander added some fun facts, such as that Akron/Kent State is the fifth-closest rivalry in college football.
Prediction…
It's fair to say that Keith is ahead of Nicely at this stage of their development. But with Nicely's poise and strong arm, it feels like he could break out with a 300-yard game at any moment.
Like every Akron-Kent State matchup, though, this one will come down to turnovers. The Zips must limit their fumbling. If they do, I think they will squeak out a narrow win.
Kent State 17, Akron 20
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
It's easy to forget how much momentum can mean in the MAC – where would Kent State be if they were playing CMU, Buffalo and NIU at the beginning of their season instead of winless Miami and E. Mich? A win against an FBS team followed by some early cupcake games really gave Kent the confidence they needed to win real games against OU and WMU. Confidence is definitely a big part of what this Akron team is lacking. Hopefully this game can be the confidence booster the Zips need to finish strong, otherwise it will be a long November.
Rasor, I know you are celebrating your election but,just don't see it happening. This head coach is the poster boy for insanity. The captain on the Titanic knew it was going down but threw up his hands and went down with the ship.
Kent 35 Akron 10.
I count myself as one of the biggest Zips' fans around…but I truly believe that on Saturday night the Wagon Wheel will be on its way to Portage County. This whole season is spiraling out of control and this would just go right along with that.
Akron still has a solid defense and I hope that we can work on some ball control and some points. I think Akron can take this game. My prediction is 24-14 Zips.
KENT WINS 23- 13…BET EM…
we think the score will be 26-14.
The bandwagon Kent fans are coming out for this game. I tried to discuss the game with a geek yuppie from KSU who used to never want to discuss the rivalry… now he wants to mouth off. Come on AKRON, shut them down.
Well, they pulled it out. The defense came up big when it had to. Din't hurt that their runningback went down. Nicely is looking better. He seems to be in control most of the time. He throws the ball where it needs to be thrown not just at the receivers. The O line looked better. Kent gets NO QB SACKS. Quick passing game and enough running to keep the heat off the kid QB. Congratulations to the players and coaches. Any time you beat Kent its all good.