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After playing one of the wackiest games in football history in week six on the road, Western Michigan will return to Kalamazoo when they host Akron on Saturday, October 14, 2017, at 3:30 p.m. Western Michigan (4-2, 2-0 MAC) is coming off a wild 71-68 victory at Buffalo, and Akron (3-3, 2-0 MAC) will roll in off a 31-3 victory over Ball State.
Western Michigan came off one of their best seasons in school history with a couple rough patches, but they’re off to a hot start in conference play. They scheduled non-conference games with a matchups on the road against USC and Michigan State. They’re 4-0 since those two games, and they’ll look to stay hot on Saturday. Although they’re 4-2, the Broncos had an extremely close call last week at Buffalo in a game that went to seven overtimes. Western Michigan will look to perform better this week.
Akron is still looking for their second winning season since 2006, and their trail to that feat has already gone through Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Bowling Green, and Ball State. They’ve won those games by a combined 88 points, and none of those games where single digit differences. The Zips have shown their offense can provide the points, and, when squaring off with a Western Michigan team that has allowed 2,411 total yards of offense over six games for an average of 402 yards, this Zips have a shot.
Players to Watch
Ulysees Gilbert III, Akron- The junior linebacker from Ocala, Florida is legit. In the last three weeks against Troy, Ball State and Bowling Green, Gilbert has made a total of 31 tackles with 17 of those being solo hits. Two and a half of those were tackles for loss for a total of 18 yards. Gilbert’s someone to watch this week in Akron’s secondary.
Jarvion Franklin, WMU- Franklin’s racked up 332 yards on 62 attempts for an average of 6 per carry on the rushing attack in the last three weeks. Against an Akron team that’s given up 1,165 yards on 219 attempts for an average of five yards per carry, Franklin should be able to get his carries this week.
Game Information
Where: Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
When: 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2017.
How to Watch: CBS Sports Network.