I remember looking at Arth's 2021 team and schedule and wondering "How will this team win more than one game?!" (they won 2). We've come a long way.
Sep 2 (Sat) 2:00 PM Away Temple
Prediction - Zips offense surprises the Owls. Zips win 34-31 (1-0)
Sep 9 (Sat) 6:00 PM Home Morgan State
No messing around...Zips win 51-9 (2-0)
Sep 16 (Sat) 7:00 PM Away Kentucky Lexington, Ky.
Zips keep it close at the half, but a couple explosive second half plays carry Kentucky to a 41-24 win (2-1)
Sep 23 (Sat) TBA Away Indiana Bloomington, Ind.
WKY took these guys to OT last year. Hoosiers aren't very good. I think the Zips lose in a tight one. 27-24 (2-2)
Sep 30 (Sat) TBA Home Buffalo Akron, Ohio
We should have beaten Buffalo last year. We will this year. Zips win 45-24 (3-2)
Oct 7 (Sat) 3:30 PM Home Northern Illinois Akron, Ohio
Pounded these guys last year. We'll do so again. Zips 51-16 (4-2)
Oct 14 (Sat) TBA Away Central Michigan Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Gifted the Chipps a win last season. History doesn't repeat itself. Zips win 35-20. (5-2)
Oct 21 (Sat) TBA Away Bowling Green Bowling Green, Ohio
Who knows which BG team shows up? Tough to figure the Falcons out. Zips lost by 3 last season. Bullish that Joe schemes hard to prevent back-to-back BG losses, and the JoMo Zips round into form. Zips win 30-27 (6-2)
Nov 1 (Wed) 7 or 7:30 PM Home Kent State Akron, Ohio (InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field)
No way the Zips lose this one. Arth was #heretodevelop. Joe is #heretopoundkent. Zips win 39-20 (7-2)
Nov 8 (Wed) 7 or 7:30 PM Away Miami University Oxford, Ohio
Zips due for a letdown, and Miami always seems to have their number. Miami wins 20-19. (7-3)
Nov 14 (Tue) 7:00 PM Away Eastern Michigan Ypsilanti, Mich.
How did EMU get good at football? If they can play winning ball, anyone can. Unfortunately, the improved Eagles win 42-31. (7-4)
Nov 24 (Fri) Noon Home Ohio Akron, Ohio (InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field)
OU is down to their 4th string QB. Zips eek out a 19-17 win and look forward to their bowl game. (8-4)
Offensively, the Zips should be able to hang with anyone. OL will be improved. RB is MUCH improved. WR should be as good, or better than last year. I expect a lot from Banks at TE.
DL should be passable. Lots of size and mature bodies to choose from. Fingers are crossed a couple unknowns step up and make an impact.
LB scares me. None of the returning guys made much of an impression last year. Hopefully a year in the system and in the weight room yields a big improvement.
Secondary should be a strength...IF the DL can generate some QB pressure.
8-4 is a crazy prediction considering we've won 8 total games since we beat Northwestern in 2018. But I believe we're a MUCH better team that the one Jo inherited last year. Crazy goal...but definitely possible.