Gameday news and notes

Football
J.D. Brookhart smartly says Akron has to stop James Starks to beat Buffalo.
On the other side, Turner Gill said his team will still focus its offense on the ground game.
The line is just about even now, according to bookmakers.
I think this will be a game that Zips fans will look back at and say, "Wow, that really defines the season." That thought can go either way, of course. An Akron loss makes Detroit seem continents away. A win gives the team momentum and some wiggle room for a MAC East loss later in the season, which the Miami game appears to be.
I believe the Zips will win. As I wrote in my column, they will play their most complete game of the year thanks to the bye week, the motivation of John Mackey's return and anger from the loss to Temple. Bryan Williams will rush for close to 150 yards and Akron's quarterback will connect with Jabari Arthur at a frightening pace. The defense will hold James Starks to fewer than 100 yards.
Prediction -- Akron 31, Buffalo 17
Men's soccer
One-half of the job in Buffalo is complete.
Akron beat the Bulls 1-0 to take the lead in the MAC.
Steve Zakuani scored the deciding goal Friday night to give the Zips the conference lead.
The win will give the Zips the tiebreaker, which should make a big difference for the conference championship.