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Free Service Play For Saturday September 27, 2003
149 Akron Zips at 150 Buffalo Bulls 6:00 pm EST
Akron –15.5 (3 Units)
We were on the Zips two weeks ago at Eastern Michigan as a 21-point chalk, proclaiming that Zips should have been able to name the score. They should have as they outyarded Eastern Michigan 471-284 but they were only able to muster a 2nd half field goal in holding off the Eagles. The Zips entered Eastern Michigan territory in 5 of their 7 second half drives but two turnovers on downs, a fumble, and the final drive that ended the game were 4 missed opportunities to get the cover. They ended just 3-7 in redzone scoring. They now face a team much worse than the Eagles and the spread is less. Go figure. Zips QB Charlie Frye should probably run against this team for the cover. Zips name the score here. The only caveat is the Zips have Miami Ohio up next, but they could sleepwalk through this game and still destroy the hapless Bulls. The offense is starting to settle in while the defense is gaining more confidence. From Week 1, the Zips' offense has been high-powered, led by junior quarterback Charlie Frye and a talented receiving corps that includes Matt Cherry, Miquel Irvin and Nick Sparks, all seniors. Frye is third in the nation in total offense (342.3 yards per game), fourth in total passing yards (1,301 yards), fifth in completions (27.5), seventh in completion percentage (69.6) and 22nd in passing efficiency (149.6). Overall, the Zips are #1 in the country in total offense with 536 ypg. But in recent weeks, the running game has started to become more productive, led by 5-foot-10, 206-pound senior Bobby Hendry. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in eight of his last 10 games, dating to last season. Right now, he's 29th in the nation, averaging 93 yards per game. “We have a veteran line that is starting to come along and Bobby is starting to pick up where he left off last year,'' Akron head coach Lee Owens said. “The big problem we had in the first few games was adjusting our offensive philosophy,'' said Owens. “We've been more of a two-back offense in the past and now, we're not as much of a two-back offense. The early struggles might have been our adjustment to being more of a wide-open offense.'' Meanwhile, the defense has put together a very modest streak of five consecutive shutout quarters. Howard scored a touchdown last week, but it came in a 99-yard fumble return in the second half. Although Howard is a Division I-AA team, Owens said that shouldn't take anything away from the Zips' defensive effort. Buffalo is having problems everywhere on both sides of the ball. The defense is ranked dead last, allowing 521 ypg. The rushing defense is 116th, allowing 280 ypg and a nation’s worst 12 touchdowns and 5.8 ypc. While the passing defense is a somewhat respectable 66th in the country, most of that success is due to the fact that their opposition has had such big leads, there is no need to pass. Their 8.1 ypa average is 97th in the nation. Buffalo's four top tacklers on Saturday against Connecticut, Mark Graham, J.J. Gibson, Michael Arroyo and Delan Bradford, are all play defensive backs which is not a good way to stop teams. The low point of the season had to be the blowout loss to 1-AA Colgate. They don’t have the heart and they don’t seem to be playing for their coach anymore as witnessed by players missing practices on a daily basis. Frye should keep the Zips flying here.
149 Akron Zips at 150 Buffalo Bulls 6:00 pm EST
Akron –15.5 (3 Units)
We were on the Zips two weeks ago at Eastern Michigan as a 21-point chalk, proclaiming that Zips should have been able to name the score. They should have as they outyarded Eastern Michigan 471-284 but they were only able to muster a 2nd half field goal in holding off the Eagles. The Zips entered Eastern Michigan territory in 5 of their 7 second half drives but two turnovers on downs, a fumble, and the final drive that ended the game were 4 missed opportunities to get the cover. They ended just 3-7 in redzone scoring. They now face a team much worse than the Eagles and the spread is less. Go figure. Zips QB Charlie Frye should probably run against this team for the cover. Zips name the score here. The only caveat is the Zips have Miami Ohio up next, but they could sleepwalk through this game and still destroy the hapless Bulls. The offense is starting to settle in while the defense is gaining more confidence. From Week 1, the Zips' offense has been high-powered, led by junior quarterback Charlie Frye and a talented receiving corps that includes Matt Cherry, Miquel Irvin and Nick Sparks, all seniors. Frye is third in the nation in total offense (342.3 yards per game), fourth in total passing yards (1,301 yards), fifth in completions (27.5), seventh in completion percentage (69.6) and 22nd in passing efficiency (149.6). Overall, the Zips are #1 in the country in total offense with 536 ypg. But in recent weeks, the running game has started to become more productive, led by 5-foot-10, 206-pound senior Bobby Hendry. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in eight of his last 10 games, dating to last season. Right now, he's 29th in the nation, averaging 93 yards per game. “We have a veteran line that is starting to come along and Bobby is starting to pick up where he left off last year,'' Akron head coach Lee Owens said. “The big problem we had in the first few games was adjusting our offensive philosophy,'' said Owens. “We've been more of a two-back offense in the past and now, we're not as much of a two-back offense. The early struggles might have been our adjustment to being more of a wide-open offense.'' Meanwhile, the defense has put together a very modest streak of five consecutive shutout quarters. Howard scored a touchdown last week, but it came in a 99-yard fumble return in the second half. Although Howard is a Division I-AA team, Owens said that shouldn't take anything away from the Zips' defensive effort. Buffalo is having problems everywhere on both sides of the ball. The defense is ranked dead last, allowing 521 ypg. The rushing defense is 116th, allowing 280 ypg and a nation’s worst 12 touchdowns and 5.8 ypc. While the passing defense is a somewhat respectable 66th in the country, most of that success is due to the fact that their opposition has had such big leads, there is no need to pass. Their 8.1 ypa average is 97th in the nation. Buffalo's four top tacklers on Saturday against Connecticut, Mark Graham, J.J. Gibson, Michael Arroyo and Delan Bradford, are all play defensive backs which is not a good way to stop teams. The low point of the season had to be the blowout loss to 1-AA Colgate. They don’t have the heart and they don’t seem to be playing for their coach anymore as witnessed by players missing practices on a daily basis. Frye should keep the Zips flying here.