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FACTS & STATS: Site: Yager Stadium (24,286) -- Oxford, Ohio. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: Akron 1-4, Miami-OH 2-2. Away Record: Akron 0-3, Miami-OH 1-3. Neutral Record: Akron 0-0, Miami-OH 0-0. Conference Record: Akron 0-4, Miami-OH 2-2. Series Record: Miami-Ohio leads, 14-5-1.

GAME NOTES: Still without a victory in league play the Akron Zips will head to Oxford to take on the Miami-Ohio RedHawks this Thursday night in Mid-American Conference play at Yager Stadium.

It has been another miserable season for Akron, which has just one victory in eight games and that win came against VMI. Since that decision, the Zips have fallen four straight times, and the most recent loss was the toughest to swallow, as the team missed a two-point conversion on the final play of the game to fall to Central Michigan, 23-22.

The RedHawks also started the season at a slow pace, losing four straight games. Since then the team has claimed a win in three of its last four contests, including a 41-13 decision over Buffalo this past weekend to move to 2-2 in conference action.

The RedHawks have dominated the Zips in the all-time series, winning 14 of the 20 matchups, and 10 of those victories came over the last 12 meetings. Last year the RedHawks had a tough time with the Zips, but managed to walk away with a 19-14 decision.

The losing has continued for Akron throughout the season, but the offense is improving each week. Against Central Michigan this past Saturday the Zips had a slow start, but scored 16 points in the final quarter to almost beat the Chippewas. If not for a failed two-point attempt on the final play, Akron could have pulled off the shocking win.

Clayton Moore had one of his best games on the season, throwing for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores went to Marquelo Suel, who finished with 112 yards on 11 catches. Jawon Chisholm gave the Zips a balanced attack by rushing for 130 yards and one touchdown on just 19 carries.

Chisholm has been the most consistent player on the field since day one and is currently pacing the squad with 753 yards and four touchdowns. As for Moore, he is slowly getting better, but his numbers are still pedestrian as he comes into this contest with only nine touchdowns against seven interceptions. He has completed just 50.9 percent of his throws for only 1,347.

The offense might be improving for Akron, but the same cannot be said of the defense. The biggest weakness for this unit has come against the run, as teams are gashing the front line for 203.9 ypg and have piled up 21 rushing scores.

The team's inability to stop the run continued in the recent loss to Central Michigan, as the Zips were punished for 192 yards on 6.0 yards per carry.

Brian Wagner was very busy in the setback, as he racked up 18 tackles, giving him 116 on the year. What is amazing about that is the second leading tackler is Dan Marcoux with only 35 stops.

The RedHawks have been inconsistent offensively throughout the season, but the team is starting to get things in order, including a 41-point outburst in a win over Buffalo.

Zac Dysert has taken a beating all year long, but he has persevered and is coming off his best game of the season. In the win over Buffalo, the quarterback threw for 313 yards and five touchdowns. Even the rushing attack, which is one of the worst in the nation finished with 128 yards, with Tyrone Jones leading the way with 58 yards and one score.

Despite breaking the 100-yard plateau, the RedHawks come into this weekend posting just 67.5 ypg on the ground and that lack of success has put pressure on the shoulders of Dysert, who has thrown for 2,149 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Just like the Zips, the RedHawks have struggled in terms of stopping the run. Opponents are producing 25.4 ppg and that is largely because the teams are punishing Miami-Ohio for 177.4 yards per matchup.

The RedHawks were able to quiet Buffalo's Branden Oliver mainly because they jumped out to such a large lead. By the final whistle the defense allowed just 77 yards on 2.3 yards per attempt.

Another huge help was the fact that the defense forced three turnovers. Big plays have been hard to come by, with Miami-Ohio recording only 10 takeaways on the year. Dayonne Nunley hauled in one of those interceptions and now has a team-high three on the year. Anthony Kokal, who is second on the team with 56 tackles, added eight more and also grabbed an interception and recovered a fumble.

The Zips are slowly getting better, but the RedHawks are further along. Expect Miami to take care of Akron once again at home.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Miami-Ohio 38, Akron 21