Miami

[ZachTheZip]

Time to move on. I hope that Zips fans have shed some naysayers and defeatists from both outside and within our own ranks.

We are 9.5-point underdogs at home. That line is absurd. I have the uttermost confidence that we will win our MAC opener.

[zestycoyote]

Should be an interesting game. You could argue that Dysert is the best QB the Zips will face all season. He's a longtime starter with some solid targets around him.

That said, we're talking MAC defenses now, which means the Zips could put up 30+ points.

I'm calling a shootout -- 38-34 in favor of the Zips.

[zipsfan33]

9.5??? Wow, was that line made in August? We may not win, but after scoring 66 and 24 in hostile territory has to mean something... We need to make sure DW is healthy and throwing darts!

[Aaron]

Is there anybody on the boards tailgating in Lot 73 Saturday? I'm bringing the whole (9 person) family out to tailgate early Saturday, and I'd love to meet up with other board members there.

We'll have beer (standard and root), snacks, and a game of Kubb (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubb) to pass the time. Go Zips, beat the redhawks!

[johnnyzip84]

I'm not sure where the 9.5 point spread came from, but the services reported in USA Today have the Zips getting 6 points.

I'll wait until I know more about the injury situation before I make any predictions.

[skip-zip]

I really think this is the most pivotal game of the season, if we hope to get new people from the local area on the bandwagon this year. It's the first of a 3 game stretch against teams that we haven't beaten in years. And I believe Miami is the worst, and most beatable, of those 3 teams.

[akronad]

Is there anybody on the boards tailgating in Lot 73 Saturday? I'm bringing the whole (9 person) family out to tailgate early Saturday, and I'd love to meet up with other board members there.

We'll have beer (standard and root), snacks, and a game of Kubb (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubb) to pass the time. Go Zips, beat the redhawks!

Plan on getting there early. It is Marathon Saturday in Akron. We will be parking in lot 73 around 7:00 and then going downtown for awhile to see our neghbor finsh. Then taking a shuttle to the game.

[Dr Z]

We are 9.5-point underdogs at home. That line is absurd.

Your source is absurd. The line is five and a half.

[ZachTheZip]

Your source is absurd. The line is five and a half.

The line opened at 9.5, and has been shrinking ever since. Most of the money is on Akron.

[NewZipsFan]

Let's look at this as logically as possible. We've got statistics through four games for both teams. I don't think anyone would argue with me when I say that our first four games - (let's just say that our game vs Morgan State and Miami's game vs Southern Ill - both FCS teams - are a wash - even though we killed Morgan State and Miami only beat Southern Ill 30-14) have been against better opposition than Miami has faced. A 27-16 win over UMass does not impress me any more than their FCS win.

Here are our national statistics through 9-22-12:

Here are Miami's stats through 9-22-12:

As you can see - we are statistically better than Miami in most categories - and that is, again, against BETTER opponents.

When you look at our standings in our conference -- add all of our rankings together, and divide by the 17 categories - we come out at 6.29. Miami comes in at 7.9.

Based on math, logic, as well as my overly optimistic view of this Zips team - I say we win 41-14. Watch out MAC - our 8-0 run starts on Saturday

[Dr Z]

The line opened at 9.5, and has been shrinking ever since. Most of the money is on Akron.

Lines don't move 4 points. ESPECIALLY an Akron football line. Do you know how much money would have to be bet on Akron to get the line to move a whole point?

[Big Zip]

This is why lines move that much.

Miami-Ohio Redhawks @ Akron Zips

2:00 PM Game Time Record Line Betting Trend

Teams Win-Loss Streak Open Current Spread Money O/U

163 Miami (OH) (2-2) (0-2 A) W-1 -9.5 -5.5 18% n/a 100%

164 Akron (1-3) (1-1 H) L-1 58.0 58.5 82% n/a 0%

Line Movements · BT Movements · Weather · Scoreboards

82% of the $ on Akron.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/matchups/

[Dr Z]

So according to your Vegas site 96% of the money went on Oregon and the line moved a half a point?!?

[Zipmeister]

Well I can't argue with the numbers you have presented.

Let's look at this as logically as possible. We've got statistics through four games for both teams. I don't think anyone would argue with me when I say that our first four games - (let's just say that our game vs Morgan State and Miami's game vs Southern Ill - both FCS teams - are a wash - even though we killed Morgan State and Miami only beat Southern Ill 30-14) have been against better opposition than Miami has faced. A 27-16 win over UMass does not impress me any more than their FCS win.

Here are our national statistics through 9-22-12:

Here are Miami's stats through 9-22-12:

As you can see - we are statistically better than Miami in most categories - and that is, again, against BETTER opponents.

When you look at our standings in our conference -- add all of our rankings together, and divide by the 17 categories - we come out at 6.29. Miami comes in at 7.9.

Based on math, logic, as well as my overly optimistic view of this Zips team - I say we win 41-14. Watch out MAC - our 8-0 run starts on Saturday

[MontrealExposloveZippy]

Doesn't the marathon come through infocision at 3:00- I wonder how that'll work out with the game going on!!

Go Zips!!!

[johnnyzip84]

Doesn't the marathon come through infocision at 3:00- I wonder how that'll work out with the game going on!!

Go Zips!!!

The race starts at 7:00 am, so this shouldn't be an issue. Although getting to our parking spaces for tailgating could be affected.

[Aaron]

Doesn't the marathon come through infocision at 3:00- I wonder how that'll work out with the game going on!!

Go Zips!!!

Marathon is closed down by 1PM - no worries. Street closing times are posted on another thread, but should be done around the stadium by 10:30AM or so.

This is the most excited I've been for a Zips football game since the game against Indiana where our fortunes shifted

[MontrealExposloveZippy]

Thanks, it was a bad attempt at a joke--

I am pumped, I really think we will see a Zip win on Saturday!! And then hopefully a little celebration time in in Akron-- We can only hope!! TBOW is gonna lay some TPOW on Miami

[GP1]

Going back to the carts on the previous page....What is pass defense efficiency?

[NewZipsFan]

Going back to the carts on the previous page....What is pass defense efficiency?

its a relatively complicated formula - kind of like the passing efficiency rating a QB gets on offense.

It combines yardage given up, comp percentage, number of ints, percentage of ints, yards per attempt and tds per attempt.

[Lee Adams]

Miami is going to throw a solid D at the Zips. They look for you to make mistakes. Fundamentally sound. Linebackers appear active. They can 'invite' a QB to throw interceptions.

Offensively,looks like Dysert is a lot of the the ground game also. Even if Harwell doesn't play,they have plenty of receivers who can hurt you. They will probably try the ground game to see if the Zips will continue to give up yardage there. But,Dysert can throw all day if he has to.

Williams will have to be very careful to not force the ball on this D. The Zips will need to try to run right at their D to keep their LB's focused on the run and to slow down thier rush. If they can get some room to pass behind their LB's they can control the ball with the passing game.

But to paraphrase Sean Connery,don't show up to a gunfight with a knife. Score early,score OFTEN.