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FACTS & STATS: Site: InfoCision Stadium (30,000) -- Akron, Ohio. Television: STO, ESPN3.com. Home Record: Ohio 3-1, Akron 1-2. Away Record: Ohio 1-2, Akron 0-3. Neutral Record: Ohio 0-0, Akron 0-0. Conference Record: Ohio 1-2, Akron 0-2. Series Record: Ohio leads, 14-12-1.

GAME NOTES: Coach Frank Solich's Ohio Bobcats have fallen on hard times, but the team will try to return to the win column this Saturday afternoon when it takes on the Akron Zips in a Mid-American Conference bout at InfoCision Stadium.

The Bobcats opened the year with three straight wins, but since then the team has stumbled, dropping three of its last four matchups, including two in a row. The two losses were heartbreaking to say the least, as the Bobcats fell by one point to Buffalo and followed that with a late 23-20 setback to Ball State.

Right now the only thing the Zips are fighting for is a way to avoid finishing the year in last place in the east division of the MAC. Akron is currently 0-2 in league play, but the team is currently ahead of Kent State, which is winless in three conference games. The last time Akron was in action the team will looking for some luck outside of conference play, but that did not happen, as the Zips were defeated by FIU, 27-17.

The Bobcats have taken a 14-12-1 edge over the Zips in the all-time series thanks to a three-game winning streak against Akron, which includes a 38-10 decision last year. However 11 of Akron's 12 wins in this series have come at home and the Zips have won five of the last six meetings in Akron.

The Bobcats were their own worst enemy in the loss to Ball State this past weekend, as the team committed three turnovers, two of which were interceptions thrown by Tyler Tettleton. The quarterback did finish with 246 yards and two scores, and both of them went to LaVon Brazill, who finished with 157 yards on eight receptions.

Although the Bobcats lost for a second straight game the budding relationship between Tettleton and Brazill has to make the coaching staff excited. So far Tettleton has thrown for 1,651 yards and 15 touchdowns and seven of those scores have been hauled in by the veteran receiver, who is leading the team with 36 receptions and 469 yards.

That tandem has enjoyed so much success and the ground game has plenty to do with it. Ohio is averaging 181.4 ypg on the season and that type of success restricts opposing defenses from keying on the pass. Donte Harden is currently leading the charge with 391 yards, while Ryan Boykin has 333 yards thus far. Tettleton is actually leading the squad though with four rushing touchdowns, proving he can do everything on a football field.

The recent skid for Ohio could be pinned mainly on the defense, which is a bit shocking considering how successful this unit has been over the past few seasons, including the beginning of this one. However, something has gone wrong for this unit and it is noticeable, because Ohio is beginning to show cracks in its armor.

After allowing 38 points in a loss to a weak Buffalo team, the Bobcats held Ball State to just 23 points, but had a glaring issue against the run, allowing 166 yards and two scores on the ground. Typically this defense is stout against the run, but that was not the case last week and coach Solich can only hope that effort was not indicative of the direction this unit is going.

In the loss to Ball State, the Bobcats did not force a turnover or record a sack, but it wasn't all bad, as Noah Keller showed why he is one of the best linebackers in the league, racking up 15 tackles, giving him a team-best 47 on the year.

This matchup could be the perfect remedy for Ohio's defensive weakness, because the Zips head into this matchup has one of the worst offensive teams in the conference. Akron is barely posting over 300 yards per game (301.0) and that has led to the team posting just 15.5 ppg.

The best player for this offense has been tailback Jawon Chisholm, who is pacing the squad with 575 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. However, as a whole the team is producing a pedestrian 124.0 rushing ypg on 3.6 yards per carry.

The passing attack, sadly enough, has been worse. Clayton Moore is simply not efficient enough to run the offense, but at this moment he continues to be on the field for Akron. Through six games the signal caller has completed less than 50.0 percent of his throws and has just six touchdowns against six interceptions.

Moore's poor play continued in the team's recent loss to FIU, as the quarterback completed just 11 of his 22 throws and totaled just 157 yards through the air, while also tossing an interception.

Chisholm scored on the ground for Akron, but the back finished with just 43 rushing yards. As a whole the Zips posted just 105 yards on only 3.4 yards per carry. That has been the usual production for Akron this year and if it continues then the team will remain in the loss column.

On top of the lack of success offensively the defense was slaughtered by FIU's rushing attack, as the Golden Panthers gashed the Zips for 206 yards and three touchdowns.

There are plenty of problems with this defense, but the biggest has been its inability to stop the run, as opponents are rumbling for over 200.0 yards per game and have already found the end zone 18 times via the run.

However, the issues do not end there, because the Zips also lack a big play mentality. So far the defense has forced only eight takeaways (one interception) and the unit has also lacked significant pressure against quarterbacks, racking up just six sacks.

Ohio has hit the skids recently, but the Bobcats are facing the perfect opponent to bounce back. The Zips have struggled in most aspects of the game, and the Bobcats should have no problems pouncing on them, en route to their fifth win.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Ohio University 31, Akron 10