2013 Record: 5-7

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 4.5*

2014 Season Win Total Prediction: 'Over'

This Zips squad has a great shot to be the second best team in the MAC East. And due to that they can go 'over' the posted total of 4.5. Akron had a solid season last year going 5-7. Yes, I know that a record under .500 is never something to boast about, but this is also a team that won six games total over the four previous seasons. Look for the "resurgence" to continue.

Potential has become a bright spot in the Akron locker room. The Zips have put together a team of athletes that have the ability to play beyond their means physically. If this squad can match their athleticism/potential/ability with their coaching staff's game plan, a season of equal or better than last year is definitely within reach.

With junior quarterback Kyle Pohl, senior tailback Jawon Chisholm, junior wideout Zach D'Orazio, and sophomore wideout Fransohn Bickley all back this team has experience at the major offensive positions. The Akron coaching staff has also made it their mission to bolster the offensive line with depth as this group needs to improve.

Overall this team is just as good as they were last year. Yes, their defense has some holes in it and they lost some key starters. But the offense is just plain better. Akron does have two difficult games out of conference at Penn State and at Pittsburgh, but the Zips, their coaching staff, and their fans see the light at the end of the tunnel. They feel that at the end of the year they will be on the right side of .500, and that they have a shot at the top half of their division as opposed to the bottom looking up.

2014 Houston Cougars Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Location Result

Thu, Aug 28th, 2014 Howard 07:00 PM InfoCision Stadium

Sat, Sep 6th, 2014 @Penn State 12:00 PM (abc) Beaver Stadium

Sat, Sep 20th, 2014 Marshall TBD InfoCision Stadium

Sat, Sep 27th, 2014 @Pittsburgh TBD Heinz Field

Sat, Oct 4th, 2014 E Michigan 02:00 PM InfoCision Stadium

Sat, Oct 11th, 2014 Miami (OH) TBD InfoCision Stadium

Sat, Oct 18th, 2014 @ Ohio TBD Peden Stadium

Sat, Oct 25th, 2014 @ Ball St. TBD Scheumann Stadium

Tue, Nov 4th, 2014 Bowling Green 08:00 PM (espn2) InfoCision Stadium

Tue, Nov 11th, 2014 @ Buffalo 08:00 PM (espn2) UB Stadium

Tue, Nov 18th, 2014 UMass 08:00 PM (espnU) InfoCision Stadium

Tue, Nov 25th, 2014 @ Kent St 07:00 PM (espnU) Dix Stadium

All Times EST

*Season Win Total Odds from Raphael Esparza. Esparza was a Las Vegas sportsbook manager for 13 years at some of the largest books on The Strip. He is a proven oddsmaker and this is his projected total.

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