Tuesday college football betting preview: Bowling Green at Akron, Toledo at Kent State BY COVERS
Bowling Green Falcons at Akron Zips (-7, 58)
The Bowling Green Falcons will look to retain their hold on top spot in the Mid-American Conference's East Division as they visit InfoCision Stadium on Tuesday night for a date with the rival Akron Zips. The Falcons are coming off their first conference loss of the season last time out, a 26-14 setback to Western Michigan. The Zips should provide a stiff challenge as they return home following disappointing road losses to Ohio and Ball State.
Akron is coming off its most disappointing result of the season, having built a 21-6 lead against the Cardinals before surrendering 29 unanswered points and going scoreless in the second half. The Zips fell victim to five turnovers - including four interceptions thrown by Tommy Woodson, who came into the game with just two picks in his first six games. The Falcons have won two straight road games, scoring an average of 39 points in those victories.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-50s and forecasts are calling for a 42 percent chance of rain. Wind will blow across the field at 13 mph.
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "The MAC takes center stage on Tuesdays and Wednesdays the next three weeks, beginning tonight. An interesting fact from my database finds MAC visitors 17-8 ATS in these Tuesday-Wednesday affairs when they are off a SU and ATS loss in their previous game (read: Bowling Green and Buffalo). Akron is 1-6 ATS against FBS foes this season and has lost the stats in each of its last three games, making them a risky proposition against the Falcons." Covers Expert Marc Lawrence.
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "A Mac Conference battle tonight with 5-3 Bowling Green paying a visit to 4-4 Akron with first place in the East division on the line. Bowling Green is getting 75 percent of the action as a 6.5-point road dog and 97 percent of the action on the moneyline with the 58.5-point total seeing split action with a slight edge to the over with 53 percent of the action." Michael Stewart, CarbonSports.ag.
ABOUT BOWLING GREEN (5-3 SU, 3-5 ATS, 4-4 O/U): Sophomore quarterback James Knapke had a rough go of it in the loss to Western Michigan, completing 20 of 33 passes for 139 yards while failing to throw a touchdown pass for just the second time all season. Junior running back Travis Greene leads the Bowling Green ground assault, but has been held under 75 yards in each of his last three outings after reaching triple digits in three of the previous four. Roger Lewis paces the receiving corps with 53 catches for 706 yards and three scores.
ABOUT AKRON (4-4 SU, 2-6 ATS, 2-6 O/U): Pohl has missed the last two games for the Zips, and his absence has been felt dramatically; the junior pivot has 1,289 passing yards and seven touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions on the season. Woodson has started both games in Pohl's absence, completing just over 50 percent of his passes while throwing three TD passes and getting picked off six times. Conor Hundley (69 carries, 407 yards, three TDs) and Jawon Chisholm (54 carries, 253 yards, three TDs) lead a two-pronged rush attack.
TRENDS:
* Bowling Green is 19-7 ATS in its last 26 November games.
* Akron is 1-6 ATS in its last seven home games against teams with winning road records.
* Under is 7-0 in Falcons' last seven games following a double-digit loss at home.
* Favorite is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings.