Akron at Kentucky
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
This Saturday the Kentucky Wildcats will host the Akron Zips in the first ever meeting between these two schools. The Wildcats improved to 2-0 on the season with a 63-28 blowout win over Western Kentucky last week. The Zips are still searching for their first win of the season, as they in overtime last week to Gardner-Webb 38-37 to fall to 0-2 on the year. If you are interested in betting on the game this weekend, the current odds have the Wildcats 25-point favorites over the Zips at home.
The Zips led 31-24 going into the final quarter of play against Gardner-Webb, but allowed a late touchdown pass to tie the game up and eventually send it into overtime. Akron got the ball first and scored on a 9-yard run by Alex Allen, but the extra point was blocked, and Gardner-Webb scored on a four-yard run by Juanne Blount to take home the victory.
The Zips had a huge day on the ground last week, as they piled on 224 rushing yards. Nate Burney and Allen combined for 219 of those yards, as Burney finished the game with 119 yards on 17 carries, while Allen ran for 110 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Patrick Nicely completed 14 of 21 passes for 165 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the loss.
As expected, Kentucky had no problem at all beating Western Kentucky last week, as they piled on six first half touchdowns to take a 42-14 lead into halftime. While a number of Wildcats had a big day against Western Kentucky, the star of the game was wide out Randall Cobbs, who scored three touchdowns three different ways. Cobbs first touchdown came on a 70 yard punt return in the second quarter, he then followed that up with a 15 yard pass to Moncell Allen, and then later hauled in a 35 yard pass from quarterback Mike Hartline for a score.
Hartline finished the game with 213 yards and three touchdowns on 16 of 20 passing. Senior running back Derrick Locke led the Wildcats on the ground with 102 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, while Raymond Sanders added 32 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries. Cobbs was the leading receiver for the Wildcats with five catches for 98 yards.
Looking at the Odds: This is a tough game to predict, as 25-points is a lot for the Wildcats to have to cover to secure the win against the spread, but then again the Zips are not a very good football team and have lost two to pretty bad teams in their first two games. With that I think you have to take the Wildcats to cover the spread in this one if you plan on placing a bet, as I believe there is a much better chance that Kentucky blows the Zips out in this one at home than it being a close game. My final score prediction is Kentucky 44, Akron 16.
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