“After a disappointing 2008 season which saw the University of Akron football go 5-7, I believe the Zips will have their first winning season under senior quarterback Chris Jacquemain in 2009. The Zips have nine returning starters on the offensive side of the ball and Jacquemain will have another year under his belt to build off of.”
“

After a disappointing 2008 season which saw the University of Akron football go 5-7, I believe the Zips will have their first winning season under senior quarterback Chris Jacquemain in 2009.

The Zips have nine returning starters on the offensive side of the ball and Jacquemain will have another year under his belt to build off of.

It doesn’t hurt that the Zips will have a healthy defense going into the season plus six returning starters on that side of the pigskin. I expect the defense to be much better than they were last season and it should lead to less opponent offensive touchdowns and better field position for the Zips offense.

In week one, the Zips will take on the 8th-ranked Penn State University Nittany Lions. I expect the Zips to really struggle as they will have to deal with a ruckus crowd and a team that was one win away from being Rose Bowl Champions.

In the following week, UA will open up InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field against the Morgan State University Bears and, like poetic justice, the Zips will open with a bang and their first victory of the season.

The Zips will face their second Big Ten Conference team in three weeks when the Indiana University Hoosiers come to town on Sept. 19.

I believe this game will be a defensive battle, but, at the end of the day, the Hoosiers will walk away with the victory.

The Zips will travel to Mount Pleasant, Michigan to take on the MAC Champion favorite Central Michigan Chippewas.

It would be hard to pick against the Chippewas and quarterback Dan LeFevour. I think even a healthy Zips defense will have a tough time stopping the Chippewas offense.

The Zips will get back to their winning ways in the homecoming game against Ohio University in week six. Last year, the Zips came up short against the Bobcats, but I think the Zips will play well on both sides of the ball and get their second win of the season.

The Zips will take on the defending MAC Chmapion Buffalo University Bulls at Buffalo in week seven. This will be a statement game for the Zips to the rest of the MAC as they will win their third game of the season in a battle.

Last year, the Zips biggest win of the season was a 42-28 victory against the Syracuse University Orangemen.

The Zips will head back to Syracuse this season, but the result will be different. In a shootout, the Orangeman will outlast the Zips.

In week nine, the Zips will take on the Northern Illinois University Huskies in Dekalb, Illinois. The Zips will not look too far ahead to the rivalry game against Kent State University and they will get their much-needed fourth win of the season.

The Zips won a two-overtime thriller at Kent State last year and I expect another thriller this season.

The Golden Flashes will be playing their first game ever at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field and the crowd may be the biggest one of the season. I think The Zips win late and put another stamp on the rivalry.

The Zips may catch some lag the following week against the Temple University Owls. I say this because they will be coming off a huge game against KSU. I also feel playing a Friday game on a short rest week will play a factor in the Zips fifth loss of the season.

The next two games, at Bowling Green University and versus Eastern Michigan University respectively, are both very winnable games. I believe, when all is said and done, the Zips will win both of these games and walk away with a seven-win season.

Will a 7-5 record earn the Zips a trip to the MAC Championship Game in Detroit, Michigan on Dec. 4?

We will have to wait and see.

“