Akron Zips (7-5 SU, 8-4 ATS) vs. Toledo Rockets (10-2 SU, 7-5 ATS)
College Football Week 14
Date and Time: Saturday, December 2nd, 2017 12:00 PM ET
Where: Ford Field Detroit, MI
TV:ESPN
by Keith F., Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: AKR +20/ TOL -20
Over/Under Total:56
In the Mid-American Conference Championship there will not be College Football Playoff implications on the line, nor a New Years Six Bowl berth on the table. However, the affair has great meaning for both combatants involved. In this years culmination the contest will feature a rematch of two teams that met in October. The two outfits are old rivals and they are the Akron Zips and the Toledo Rockets. The two teams are coming together again by virtue of winning their respective divisions. The earlier Toledo victory over the Kangaroo Kids of Akron carried little weight in the grand scheme of how this match-up shaped up. Now the time has come for the two to lock horns and settle the conference overall. For the record, when the two teams last met in Toledo in October the Rockets blasted off on the Zips by a score of 48-21. This time the stage is neutral and the contest will be aired for national audiences. The game will be televised across the country on ESPN with a kick-off time of 12:00 PM ET. The match will come from the home of the Detroit Lions, Ford Field in the Motor City. Overall, Toledo has won three of the last four clashes between these two intrastate adversaries.
The Rockets come in off a blowout victory of the defending champion of this conference, the Western Michigan Broncos last Saturday. The Rockets would defeat the Broncos at home in the Glass Bowl 37-10. Once again, the prolific offense of the Rockets would pave the way on the arm of their talented gunslinger Logan Woodside. Toledo finished with just one loss in conference play this year and was even able to crack the top-25 at one point. Most notably, the Rockets were defeated by a team vying for a College Football Playoff berth when they were walloped by the Miami Hurricanes in September. The Rockets rolled into Miami and the Canes lit them up for 52 points.
If there is one thing we can say about the Akron Zips it is that they are not afraid to play anyone, anywhere. Akron locked horns with some fantastic football teams in 2017. The list includes Penn State in Happy Valley, Troy on the road, and Iowa State at home. Over this span, the Kangaroos lost all three games. Inside, the MAC the Zips have told a different story as they lost just two games in MAC play. One of the losses came against this Toledo outfit as mentioned. The other defeat was an eyesore when they fell to Miami Ohio but in doing so Akron covered an 11-point line in a 10-point defeat. Overall, we great Akron the benefit of the doubt there by virtue of the fact it was yet another rivalry game away from their stead. On the year, Akron lost four of their five defeats on the road. The provision of a neutral site helps this teams cause greatly in that will get another shot at Toledo in more reasonable environs.
From the get-go we have seen an enormous lean on the Rockets and thus the price has begun to rise considerably in some markets. So far, we have seen the Zips granted an additional two points thanks to action pouring in on the Rockets. In Over/Under markets, we have seen the number rise by two points to its current position of 56, reflecting action on the Over.
As we have championed previously, it is hard to beat the same team twice in the same season. This offers a competitive edge to the Zips. However, the quality here is quite is a disparity between both sides. By no means would we suggest that Toledo will lose this game. However, the number the Rockets are spotting is likely inflated because no one would even consider backing the Zips otherwise. Thus, this is where step in and take back an enhanced price. Akron should come in under the number by virtue of a spirited effort in a rare opportunity for this program.
Keiths Pick to Cover the Point Spread: AKRON +20. Move the line on this game up to 20 points by inserting it into a 20 point football teaser at the web’s best sportsbook: 5dimes!