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FACTS & STATS: Site: Rynearson Stadium (30,200) -- Ypsilanti, Michigan. Television: None. Home Record: Akron 1-1, EMU 2-0. Away Record: Akron 0-2, EMU 0-2. Neutral Record: Akron 0-1, EMU 0-0. Conference Record: Akron 0-1, EMU 0-0. Series Record: Akron leads, 17-11.

GAME NOTES: Eastern Michigan will begin Mid-American Conference play this Saturday afternoon when the Eagles host the Akron Zips at Rynearson Stadium.

The Zips climbed into the win column for the first time in 2011 with a win over VMI this past weekend. Akron scored just 17 total points in losses to Ohio State, Temple and Cincinnati, but exploded offensively against VMI, scoring 36 points. Akron, which is 0-1 in league play this year, has claimed just three conference victories over the previous two seasons.

The Eagles began this year with back-to-back wins over Howard and Alabama State. In those games EMU scored 55 points, but the offense has hit a wall over the past two weeks, totaling just nine points. Clearly that type of production does not lead to victories, which is why the Eagles are now 2-2 after losses to Michigan and Penn State.

The Zips currently own a 17-11 edge over Eastern Michigan in the all-time series, and that includes victories in three of the last four matchups. However, all four games have been down to the wire battles, as the highest margin of victory has been eight points.

Through three games the Zips totaled just 17 points, and coach Rob Ianello's squad seemed to be overmatched. Fortunately the team was able to break through this past Saturday against VMI.

Sure, the outburst came against an FBS squad but its a place to start. Everything went right in the win, as the team rumbled for 294 yards on 5.7 yards per attempt. That is more yardage than the previous three games for the Zips. The main contributor to that success was Jawon Chisholm, who churned out 188 yards and one score on 27 carries.

Chisholm has fought hard to give the Zips a solid run game, and so far the young tailback is averaging 102.5 ypg on only 77 carries.

Clayton Moore also had his best showing on the season against VMI. Before that contest the quarterback had just two touchdowns against five interceptions and even though he has completed less than 50.0 percent of his passes in the win, he still finished with 223 yards.

It was a coming out party for the offense, but coach Ianello is hoping it starts a trend.

Just like the offense the defense for coach Ianello broke out with its best game of the season. However, that was not hard to do since this unit allowed over 40 points in each of the team's first three games.

Stopping the run has been a major issue for Akron, and through four games the team is being punished for 198.2 yards per game and have already surrendered 11 touchdowns. One of those scores came in the win over VMI, but that doesn't matter much since Akron was able to keep VMI's running attack limited to just 100 yards, which is clearly a huge improvement.

Akron has yet to record an interception, and that could be because the team has been unable to apply adequate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Akron has just three sacks on the year and all three came in the win over VMI. Eastern Michigan has a duel threat playing quarterback, so the front line will have to figure out a way to apply pressure.

That quarterback is Alex Gillett. Gillett has thrown for 407 yards and three scores and is also second on the team with 233 rushing yards, to go along with one touchdown. However, the signal caller had some trouble in the game against Penn State.

Gillett threw for 202 yards, but was intercepted once and sacked three times. The quarterback was also bottled up on the ground, rushing for only 22 yards. However, the team as a whole finished with just 68 yards on 1.6 yards per carry.

Despite the poor effort on the ground the Eagles are still producing 234.2 yards per game and a large portion of that is due to the play of Javonti Greene, who currently is leading the team with 368 yards on 5.6 yards per attempt. Greene only had 22 yards against Penn State, but should find much more room to roam against a weak Akron defense.

However, just like Akron's defense the Eagles have plenty of issues surrounding their unit. For coach Ron English's defense it has been a problem against the pass, as opponents have thrown for 200.0 ypg and have tossed seven touchdowns.

Eastern Michigan's woes in that area were evident in the team's recent loss to Penn State, as the Eagles were torched for 364 yards and four scores.

What has been a pleasant surprise is the effort against the run. Over the previous two seasons the Eagles were gashed for 231 and 277 yards per game, respectively, but so far the team is surrendering only 140.8 ypg and just two touchdowns through four games. In the loss to Penn State, the Eagles managed to hold the Nittany Lions to just 104 yards on the ground.

The Eagles have faced two tough Big Ten opponents in back-to-back games, but they should feel much more comfortable at home against Akron. The Eagles have done a remarkable job at improving on both sides of the ball and should open league play with a solid victory over a weak Akron team.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Eastern Michigan 38, Akron 17