MAC Championship Game

Akron Zips (7-5, 6-2) vs. Toledo Rockets (10-2, 7-1)

Toledo hammered Akron 48-21 back on 10/27, and the Zips rebounded to shock everyone and win the East division over Ohio. Akron scores just 23.3 points per game on offense, and has ridden solid defense to this point by only allowing just over 24 points per game. Freshman QB Kato Nelson has taken the team on his shoulders with the injury to Thomas Woodson, and the Zips are 2-1 in his starts. The Achilles for the Zips on offense is a run game that averages just 107.75 yards per game.
Defensively, Akron is led by LB Ulysees Gilbert III, who finished the regular season with 117 tackles, with 8.5 for loss. DE Jamal Davis II leads the team with 10.5 TFLs, and Kyron Brown leads the secondary with 11 passes broken up. Jordan Georgie picked off four passes this season as well.

For the Rockets, they have been on a solid run, scoring over 50 points per game the last two weeks in wins over Bowling Green and Western Michigan, as they were coming off a loss to Ohio in which they scored just 10 points. Logan Woodside, despite missing a ton of talent around him coming into the season, has been rock solid again, passing for 287.6 yards per game, with 24 TDs to just three INTs. Senior RB Terry Swanson stepped up big, rushing for 1139 yards on the year, while scoring 12 times. Freshman RB Shakif Seymour also managed to rush for 12 scores on 665 yards rushing. The favorite target in the passing game is Diontae Johnson, who finished the regular season with 1139 yards receiving and 11 scores.
Defensively, Toledo allows just over 25 points per game. DE Olasunkamni Adeniyi is the star, with 16.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks on the season. Most nights, Toledo will be happy just trying to outscore opponents while not having much in the way of any special talent on defense.