Akron Zips vs Ohio State Buckeyes Prediction, 8/31/2024 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Akron Zips vs Ohio State Buckeyes

Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024

Location: Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH

TV: CBS

Odds/Point Spread: Buckeyes (-50)

Total/Over-Under: 58

The Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2 last year) welcome the Akron Zips (2-10 last season) at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, August 31, 2024. Akron opens this matchup as 50.0-point dogs from oddsmakers. The over/under is 58.

The Akron Zips ended the year with a 2-10 record. The last time they took the field, the Zips played the Ohio Bobcats and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 25-14. For the game, they ran 50 plays which totaled 183 yds. The Akron Zips ended up rushing 20 different times and totaled 37 yards, earning them an average of 1.9 yds per attempt. Against the run, the Zips gave up 186 yards on 47 tries, which averages out to 4.0 yards per run allowed. Akron gave up 19 pass completions on 30 tries for a total of 208 yds, and a completion rate of 63.3%.

Concerning putting the ball in the endzone, the Akron Zips had an average of 16.3 PPG. As a unit they averaged 81.0 yards rushing, ranking them 131st in the nation. The Zips tallied 3,343 total yards for the prior campaign. Akron compiled 10 touchdowns via the pass and 12 rushing touchdowns. Akron accumulated 200 1st downs as a team, and they were flagged for 83 infractions for 721 yards. They gave the ball to the opposition 22 times.

The Zips ranked 82nd in college football concerning team defense, allowing 28.0 points per contest. Opposing teams ran for an average of 4.0 yards per run and 147.8 yards on the ground per contest last season. During the season, they gave up 1,774 rushing yards through 12 games. Concerning yards via the pass, the Zips conceded 2,248 yds which had them ranked 10th in D-1. During their 12 games, they conceded 187.3 yards per outing via the pass as well as allowing a completion percentage of 55.8%. They relinquished 335.0 yards/outing which had them sitting 32nd in the country. They allowed 19 passing touchdowns and 23 touchdowns on the ground.

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The Buckeyes finished the season having earned a 11-2 record. When they last stepped on the gridiron, the Buckeyes walked away with a loss by a score of 14-3 when they played the Missouri Tigers. The Buckeyes finished with a total of 203 yards while running 57 plays (3.6 yards per play). Ohio State rushed the ball for 2.9 yards per tote, finishing with 97 yards on 33 carries. Ohio State allowed 53 running attempts for 203 yds (3.8 yds per carry). The Buckeyes pass defense allowed a completion rate of 61.1%, surrendering 128 yds on 11 out of 18 through the air.

The Ohio State Buckeyes held an average of 407.9 yards per game, which ranked them 48th in the country. The Ohio State offense compiled 579 yards of penalties on 74 violations, which was good for 67th in the nation in terms of hurting your team. They averaged 138.8 yards per game via the ground game and rushed for 1,804 yards overall. They tossed 7 picks while surrendering 7 fumbles and they earned 276 1st downs. When it comes to the points being put on the board, the Buckeyes had a ranking of 46th in the nation with a maintained average of 30.5 points per contest. For the prior season, the Buckeyes had a total of 3,498 yards through the air as well as averaging 269.1 passing yards per outing, which had them ranked 31st in college football.

The Buckeyes surrendered 11.2 points per game, which put them in 2nd in college football. Ohio State yielded a total of 1,554 yards rushing (119.5 yards per outing) in addition to 7 touchdowns via the rush last year. Last year, they surrendered 146 points in total. They surrendered 9 touchdowns via the pass and 145.9 yards/game, which had them ranked 1st in D-1. The Buckeyes defense took the field for 828 plays, which was good for 55th in Division 1. Their defense compiled 4 fumbles and 7 picks over the course of the prior season.

Who will win tonight's Zips/Buckeyes college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Buckeyes -50.0

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